• Who's Reading What on Wednesdays?

The Dark | August 14, 2013

by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, April 2013)

“Laszlo is afraid of the dark. The dark is not afraid of Laszlo.”

So reads the flap copy for the charmingly somber, visually stunning picture book from Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen. This superstar team tackles an all-too-familiar theme in children’s books: the fear of the dark. By giving “the dark” its own distinct voice, Snicket aptly weaves together a story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. You can’t help but bite your nails and scream “TURN BACK!” as Laszlo ever-so-cautiously makes his way down to the basement, the room where the dark lives. Klassen’s illustrations add further texture add depth to the story. No animals ambiguously “disappear” in this one, but Klassen’s signature charm shines through on every single page. What’s particularly striking to me is the stark contrast Klassen creates between light and dark throughout; it provides the perfect backdrop for Laszlo to bravely discover that the dark is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, it could be as helpful and as comforting as an old friend.

Learn more about this title