Review: The Dark

Laszlo is afraid of the dark. The dark lives in the same house as Laszlo. It mostly spends its time in the basement, but at night it ventures out into the rest of the house.  When the dark visits Laszlo unexpectedly one night, he must be brave and face his fear. When he does, he discovers that the dark isn’t quite what he expected.

A wonderful exploration of fear from the perspective of a child, The Dark shares with readers an insightful and emotive story of one boy’s challenge to bravely face his fears.

For many children, the things they are afraid of can so often seem to have a personality of their own. Readers will relate to Laszlo as he confronts the dark, treating it as a real and aware presence in his home.

The dynamic team of Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen offer young readers an empowering story about conquering fear and parents the opportunity to talk with children about ways they can bring their fears into perspective.

I love the colours used in the illustrations and the presence of the dark on the page. The text could seem sinister in places, but the warmth of the lit areas helps to provide a sense of balance and hope. On re-reading, children will be able to see how their own fears can influence how they interpret the voice of the dark. Once they know how the story ends, does the voice of the dark still seem frightening or can it be interpreted another way?

I love the work of both Snicket and Klassen, so I am not surprised that in partnership they have produced such an insightful and meaningful story.

You can watch a video trailer for The Dark here.

Title: The Dark
Author: Lemony Snicket
Illustrator: Jon Klassen
Publisher: Orchard Books, $24.99 RRP
Publication Date: 1 April 2013
Format: Hard cover
ISBN: 9781408330029
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture book