The Midnight Fair

THE MIDNIGHT FAIR
Gideon Sterer, illustrated by Mariachiara DiGiorgio Candlewick Press, 2021

The sights in this wordless fantasy will seem familiar to many readers-the rides, games, and cotton candy could be straight out of a Vermont county fair. Except that these fair-goers are not the usual human families- this special group of visitors has let themselves in from the nearby forest. Racoons, deer, porcupine, foxes, rabbits - the whole forest community has been waiting for night to fall for their chance to enjoy the fair. The racoons turn on the lights, giving the illustrations an electric glow as the animals are shown riding, eating, and playing. Lush two-page spreads interspersed with comic-style panels give readers the feel of being at the fair themselves. As the sun rises and the bumper cars wind down, the forest animals clean up and they leave their payment- leaves, flowers, berries, and shells. Then they vanish back into the woods.

Discussion questions

How does the story get told without words? Why do you think the author chose not to use text?
Have you been to a fair or amusement park? How does The Midnight Fair compare to a place you may have been to?
How do the animals pay for tickets, games, and food?
What do you think the fox is planning to do with the fish? Why do you think the fox lets the fish go?
Many of the animals in the story are nocturnal, but not all of them are. Can you find some that you think would not normally be active at night? Why do you think they’re up so late?

Vocabulary

Nocturnal- active at night
Carousel - a motorized ride that revolves. Also called a merry-go-round.
There are many words throughout the book that are part of the rides, games and food booths. Can you pick out some that you recognize?

Video content

Go for a ride on the famous Coney Island Cyclone, the world’s second steepest roller-coaster. https://video.link/w/mPvzd
The view from the Ferris wheel at the Caledonia County Fair in Lyndonville https://video.link/w/hPvzd
The Caledonia County Fair at night: https://www.facebook.com/caledoniacountyfair/videos/950927209197190

Publisher content

Activities

Look at the illustrations of animals on the rides- do the rides look like a ride you’ve been on? Can you remember how it made your body feel as the ride spun, dipped, or maybe even went upside-down? Write down what you can remember about that experience.
Design your own amusement park or fair ride. Draw or paint your ride in motion with people (or animals) riding it.
The Midnight Fair takes place almost entirely at night. How did Mariachiara DiGiordio show the electric light of the fair in the darkness? Create a night scene using chalk pastels on black construction paper.

Gideon Sterer

Author
www.gideonsterer.com

Gideon grew up in upstate New York, where his parents ran a wildlife Discovery Center. He remembers sneaking out at night and letting out all the animals!