While I do find Eve Bunting's Smoky Night an impressive, very much evocative, thought-provoking (and also important) picture book experiment, and really, truly much appreciate that she has managed to pen a narrative about a potentially touchy if not even objectionable topic (race rioting, racial tensions) that is neither openly inflammatory nor overly depressing and tragic (but simply, basically matter of fact), I really do not all that much care for David Diaz' accompanying collage like illustrations. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.īunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling.

Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Bunting.Īnne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books.

Smoky night by eve bunting