HUGGED BY THE NIGHT, by Harold Green III, Karabo Poppy, Chronicle Books, Jan. 27, 2026, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 3-5)
Spoken-word poet Harold Green III welcomes the beauty and power of Black identity in Hugged by the Night, a lullaby picture book.
As darkness settles over the forest, three animals gaze up at the night sky and wonder how they can be as confident, proud, and fearless as she is. Hearing their wishes, the sky takes the animals into her arms and, with a gentle embrace, bestows upon each a powerful and transformative gift. —Synopsis provided by Chronicle Books
Hugged by the Night is a modern folktale that address the discomfort descendants of the African diaspora can feel being far from home “in places where their Blackness is viewed as anything but human.”
Author Harold Green III hopes that readers will “be proud of your Blackness; may it be embraced and never used against you.” In addition, there’s an emotional intelligence element to the story that focuses on the power of being cared for.
It’s a strong message shared through fairly simple text and striking illustrations. Artist Karabo Poppy’s use of black and purple with pops of brown, orange and bring the book’s messages to life.
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