Peter Cheong, Every Night at Midnight, Affirm Press, August 2023, 40 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781922992383
Feeling lonely can be tough. Especially when you know you are different from others. Felix feels this way all of the time – because he turns into a wolf every night at midnight. How to explain that to his human friends? It’s something that Felix wrestles with each day. Instead, Felix keeps his secret for fear of being ostracised by his friends in case they don’t understand.
When Felix meets another wolf at midnight, he feels an immediate connection, befriending this other wolf who shares his nightly wolf persona. It’s a wonderful feeling to connect, but Felix isn’t just a wolf, and still wants to find a way to relate to his friends who aren’t wolves. Perhaps if he’s brave enough to share his nightly transformation, he just might find out that he’s not as alone as he thinks…
Every Night at Midnight is a lesson on being comfortable with one’s own company while exploring the things that make people unique and interesting. Through Felix’s journey, the reader is enlightened by the concept that we are all individuals. Often people are uncertain of their own differences and whether or not they will be accepted if they share their (sometimes big, sometimes small) idiosyncrasies. However, sometimes in sharing our divergences we find solidarity with others.
Peter Cheong has found a marvellous balance between engaging text and thought-provoking illustrations. In a fantastic detail, the reader is given an insight into Felix’s personal explorations of his nightly changes, as shown in his visual journaling which he puts up on his bedroom wall. It shows that Felix’s hidden persona is always on his mind and something he wants to understand better. A challenge that many people can relate to, no matter their age.
Every Night at Midnight is a wonderfully uplifting tale that explores self-acceptance, diversity, and inclusion. Recommended for children aged 4-8, it’s a profound book that can engage all ages and give anyone insight into embracing and celebrating individuality.
Reviewed by Lauren Harcombe