Picture Book Review

The Dark
Written by Lemony Snicket 
Illustrated by Jon Klassen 
Age Range: 4-8

Published 2013 by Little, Brown and Company
ISBN:978-0-316-18748-0
MSRP: $16.99

Awards:
2014 Charlotte Zolotow Award for outstanding picture book writing

Lists:
New York Times Best Illustrated Books of 2013
School Library Journal Best Books of 2013
Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2013
ALSC Notable Books for Children 2013

"Laszlo was afraid of the dark."

The Dark is a spare, atmospheric and elegant picture book from two children's literature powerhouses. Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) wrote the blockbuster middle-grade series A Series of Unfortunate Events and Jon Klassen is a current darling of the picture book world, with 2012’s This is Not My Hat winning the Caldecott Medal. The two have teamed up to tell the story of how Laszlo learned to stop worrying and love the dark.

Laszlo has good reason to be afraid of the dark: he lives in a big, creaky house with lots of nooks and crannies for the dark to lurk. But the basement is the worst. The basement is where the dark reigns, even during the day when the rest of the house is light. Laszlo is at once terrified and fascinated by the basement and the dark that lives there. “Hi,” he would say every morning from the top of the basement stairs. “Hi, dark.” Then, when Laszlo’s nightlight burns out one night, leaving him completely alone with the dark…something happens.

The Dark is entertaining and beautifully illustrated. Klassen’s use of dark negative space creates a rich atmosphere and Laszlo’s unchanging expression imbues him with a stoicism that is unexpected in light of his fear of the dark.

Snicket’s choice to give the dark a personality is an effective method of lessening its perceived threat. Rather than an unknowable thing, the dark is just another inhabitant of Laszlo’s house—who does not, in fact, wish him any harm – and by the end of the book they learn to coexist.

The Dark tackles a common childhood fear in a creative and unique way, and is a great book for a child who may still be scared to turn off the light. Its vaguely creepy atmosphere, however, makes it ideal for the kid who enjoys being scared a little, as well. But not too much.

Readalikes:
This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak
The Hole by Oyvind Torseter