The Dark; Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Lazslo is afraid of the dark. This isn’t too much of a problem though as the dark mostly lives in the basement. It comes out a night and creeps up to the doors and windows of the house in which Laszlo lives and sometimes it can be see in other places around the house but it always returns to the basement.

Laszlo is happy to check-in on the dark each morning, he is sure that if he visits the dark then the dark won’t visit him. But then, one night Laszlo’s nightlight goes out and the dark talks to him. The dark calls Laszlo to the very place he doesn’t want to go…the basement.

The Dark is a simple yet very clever picture book that is full of suspense and tension. Lemony Snicket’s clever use of prose are beautifully accompanied by the brilliant illustrations of Jon Klassen. Klassen is an expert illustrator and his ‘Hat’ trilogy are some of my favourite children’s books. The illustrations are dark and as a result the reader can only see what the boy can see and what is lit up by his torch.

The Dark perfectly captures a young child’s fears and anxieties as he ventures into the place he fears to tread and overcomes his fears through his bravery. A book that any child who has been afraid of the dark will relate to.

Recommended for 5+.