Hello, dark

PreS-Gr 1--Fear is replaced with reverie in Wong's matter-of-fact conversation between an Asian boy and "Dark," who frightens him every night with sound and atmospherics. The child, with black hair puffed as a chrysanthemum and wearing rumpled pajamas, is fed up with being afraid, and lists all the things Dark does well. Dark shields the earth to give it time to rest, nocturnal animals can play safely in the shadows, and more. The narrator reaches up, toward Dark, and realizes that his newly amiable companion may be lonely. The monologue then turns to happier things, such as shadow play, meditation, and sharing music. The illustrations are moody and walk a fine line between what the child imagines and the shadows that might actually occupy a bedroom in the dark. The boy's narration is age-appropriate and logical, as he works through his feelings to safety. VERDICT A generous look at nighttime, and the fact that it unfolds in dim rooms and under black skies gives it a resonant veracity. For all bedtime shelves.--Kimberly Olson Fakih

A new perspective combats a common childhood fear: the dark. A young unnamed child greets the dark in the bedroom, personified by a rotund shadow with three hairs at the top of its head and droopy eyes. The child lists the many ways the dark brings uncertainty. "You keep me wide awake and worrying; what will you do once I'm asleep? / I hear the creaks you make around the house. It makes me feel helpless and alone." The spare text gently narrates as the kid declares, "I'm tired of being afraid of you. Tonight, can we talk?" Dark purple and blue hues saturate each detailed illustration as the child acknowledges the "good things" the dark also provides. A menagerie of animals playing in the twilight and dreamy scenes of the sky attest to how the dark facilitates life for nocturnal creatures and rest for others. The child then offers a hand to the shadow with an invitation: "Let's be friends." In subsequent pages, the child models ways readers can interact with the dark: "play imaginary games"; "count sheep"; "practice breathing"; and "listen to music." Eventually, and with the help of a night light, the child concludes, "I'm sure we can be friends," and watches Dark, no longer an object of fear, head back into the closet. The young child presents as East Asian. This tale compassionately guides young readers to face their fears. (author's note) (Picture book. 3-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.