The Night Creatures: Firefly
Published on 23. October 2025
Book
Hardback
32 pages
978-1-917044-52-3 (ISBN)
Description
From two of the UK's best-known book makers, Robert Macfarlane and Luke Adam Hawker, comes a stunning picture book to ignite wonder in readers everywhere.
In the darkness of December,
Through the winter's deepest snowing,
When the world is steep in camber,
And all hope is downwards-flowing -
Then's the time to seek what's glowing...
Written in lyrical verse, this story follows one light-seeking child who discovers a meadow illuminated by fireflies: "fallen constellations" that dance like stars among the summer grasses, setting fears to flight. Enchanting to read aloud and exquisite to hold in the hand, each scene is rendered in spellbinding detail, showing the power of hope in a world steeped in darkness.
The first in an upcoming trilogy, Firefly is sure to appeal to all ages
-An uplifting and lyrical story of light, hope and wonder
-With words from beloved and bestselling author, Robert Macfarlane, creator of The Lost Words and The Lost Spells
-Stunning artwork created from original etchings by Luke Adam Hawker, whose debut book Together was a Sunday Times bestseller
-Spectacular gift book, cloth bound with a copper foiled cover
-This accessible story is perfect for children, and adults, ages 4 and above
"A quiet, glowing tale: - the i Paper
"Dreamy, awe-inspiring and truly inventive" - The Bookseller
"A glowing and magical poetic celebration of hope" - Kirkus
"Captivating . . . A kind of charm to will away spirit-darkening forces" - Publishers Weekly
"Readers of all ages will be inspired to persevere through the winters of their lives, when light is scarce but worth fighting for" - Foreword Reviews (Starred review)
In the darkness of December,
Through the winter's deepest snowing,
When the world is steep in camber,
And all hope is downwards-flowing -
Then's the time to seek what's glowing...
Written in lyrical verse, this story follows one light-seeking child who discovers a meadow illuminated by fireflies: "fallen constellations" that dance like stars among the summer grasses, setting fears to flight. Enchanting to read aloud and exquisite to hold in the hand, each scene is rendered in spellbinding detail, showing the power of hope in a world steeped in darkness.
The first in an upcoming trilogy, Firefly is sure to appeal to all ages
-An uplifting and lyrical story of light, hope and wonder
-With words from beloved and bestselling author, Robert Macfarlane, creator of The Lost Words and The Lost Spells
-Stunning artwork created from original etchings by Luke Adam Hawker, whose debut book Together was a Sunday Times bestseller
-Spectacular gift book, cloth bound with a copper foiled cover
-This accessible story is perfect for children, and adults, ages 4 and above
"A quiet, glowing tale: - the i Paper
"Dreamy, awe-inspiring and truly inventive" - The Bookseller
"A glowing and magical poetic celebration of hope" - Kirkus
"Captivating . . . A kind of charm to will away spirit-darkening forces" - Publishers Weekly
"Readers of all ages will be inspired to persevere through the winters of their lives, when light is scarce but worth fighting for" - Foreword Reviews (Starred review)
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Target group
Children/juvenile
Dimensions
Height: 263 mm
Width: 191 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
376 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-917044-52-3 (9781917044523)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Robert Macfarlane is internationally known for his writing on nature, people and place. His bestselling books include Underland, Landmarks, The Old Ways, The Wild Places, Mountains of the Mind and, most recently, Is A River Alive?. With the artist Jackie Morris he co-created the much-loved books of nature-poetry and art, The Lost Words and The Lost Spells. His work has been translated into more than thirty languages, won many prizes around the world and been widely adapted for film, music, theatre, radio and dance. He has also written operas, plays, and films including River and Mountain, both narrated by Willem Dafoe, and collaborated with artists including Olafur Eliasson and Stanley Donwood. As a lyricist and performer, he has written albums and songs with musicians including Cosmo Sheldrake, Julie Fowlis and Johnny Flynn. In 2017, the American Academy of Arts and Letters awarded him the E.M. Forster Prize for Literature. He is a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
Luke Adam Hawker is an artist with a background in Architecture and Design. Luke commenced his career as a designer before he became a full-time artist in 2015. He has a fascination with drawing on location as well as taking the time to notice the world around him. He primarily uses his art as a means to connect with places and people. In 2021, Luke published his first book titled 'Together' and it quickly became a Sunday Times Best Seller. It has been well-received and over 130,000 copies have been purchased worldwide in eleven different languages.
Luke Adam Hawker is an artist with a background in Architecture and Design. Luke commenced his career as a designer before he became a full-time artist in 2015. He has a fascination with drawing on location as well as taking the time to notice the world around him. He primarily uses his art as a means to connect with places and people. In 2021, Luke published his first book titled 'Together' and it quickly became a Sunday Times Best Seller. It has been well-received and over 130,000 copies have been purchased worldwide in eleven different languages.