Take a nighttime stroll in your local neighborhood and…who knows? You might notice something you’ve never seen before! Light projects are always a hit at our story times, and this sweet story was the perfect companion to the craft.
We read Night Walk, written by Sara O’Leary and illustrated by Ellie Arscott (Groundwood Books, 2020). When a young child can’t sleep, their Dad invites them on a night walk through the neighborhood. From warm lights in windows to late suppers, the world can be a different place, even when you’re close to home.
You’ll need:
- 1 large box (ours was 4.5” X 4.5” x 9” but a large tissue box works too!)
- 1 small strand of LED string lights
- Dark blue poster board
- Construction paper and tagboard
- Scissors, tape, and glue for construction
- Markers for decorating
- Hole punch
This project is a simple diorama with silhouettes of buildings cut out of tagboard. Kids used hole punches to add windows to the buildings and “stars” to the sky:
To light the box, we used strands of mini LED lights scored from a holiday discount bin. First, punch holes in a rectangle of dark blue poster board, then push a light bulb through each hole. Use tape to secure the wires to the back of the poster board to prevent the light bulbs from wiggling loose.
In the above photo, you can also see how the end of the light strand is threaded through the back of the box. It leads to the strand’s battery pack, which we taped to the back of the box to make it extra sturdy:
Complete this portion of the project by taping the night sky to the back of the box. Now add your tagboard skyline, then decorate your buildings with markers, construction paper, or whatever else is available. We also recommend adding cardboard trees, shrubs, sidewalk, whatever strikes your fancy!
When the projects were complete, we lined up all the boxes, turned out the lights, and everyone took a walk to enjoy and observe the little worlds we created!
The 
Originally hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Barbara Hess Valenza (1961-2024) earned a B.A. in Communications and Theatre from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) and began her career in New York City in the art department of Jim Henson Productions. In 2011, she transitioned to Princeton University as the Assistant Director of Graphic Services and The Digital Print Center, and then as the inaugural Director of Library Communications in 2017. A long-time resident of Hopewell, New Jersey, she and her husband, Mark, raised their two children — Laura and Nathaniel — with much love and laughter. Barbara believed in the positive power of art and literature, and, as a talented and giving artist, honored the responsibility and privilege that comes with creating.
Kindness, positivity, imagination, hope, and happiness run through Barbara’s works like golden threads on a beautiful tapestry. In her illustrations and words, Barbara shared her artistic soul while also encouraging readers to embrace and express their own creativity. Central to her stories are personal connections — families to be celebrated, friends to be discovered, and feelings to be shared.
From bears in bursting rainbow gardens to birthday parties for dachshund dogs, Barbara’s illustrations are vivid and bold; joyful and jubilant. The exhibition, coordinated by family, friends, and colleagues, is a loving tribute to her creative and giving spirit. To quote Barbara’s own inspiring words: This is a great day. Be wonderful in everything you do. Make the world a brighter place. Have lots and lots of fun. Be happy.
