Orion and the Dark by Emma Yarlett –OPTIONAL

Yarlett, Emma Orion and the Dark Templar Publishing, $16.99 PICTURE BOOK

Orion is a little boy who is scared of a great list of things, but especially the dark. Despite his best efforts, like painting his room with glow in the dark paint and dressing up as an owl, he is still afraid. Orion still dreads bedtime. One night the dark comes to visit him, together they face all his fears and find out that the dark is really not so bad.

This is a wonderful book! The illustrations are fantastic, with a hand that is its own page for kids to reach out for. The creature that is Dark, is adorable and full of the night sky. Lots of little details to look at and explore. Why then I am reviewing it as OPTIONAL? Because I think bedtime fears belong in the great books for home reading category, to read with a grownup and talk about, but not as a topic for a school library. Would make a perfect gift for a little one who is scared of the dark.

EL(K-3) –OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.