Orion and the Dark

Orion is scared of A LOT of things, but most of all he's scared of the dark. So one night Dark decides to take Orion on an adventure. Emma Yarlett's second picture book combines incredible illustrations and spell-binding storytelling with inventive die-cut pages that make Dark come to life in the hands of the reader!

Orion is scared of a lot of things: monsters in his closet, popping balloons, and haircuts, for example. But the scariest thing of all is . . . the dark. Despite brainstorming ways to conquer his fear (eating carrots to improve his night vision, keeping pet glowworms), nothing works. Finally, Orion can't take it anymore and stands on his bed to shout at the night sky, "I've had enough of you, Dark! I wish you and your scary sounds, your murky monsters, and your pitch blackness would just . . . just . . . go away!" Incredibly, the opposite happens. A bluish blob spangled with stars slips feet first through Orion's skylight and into the chair by the boy's bed. With a kind smile and die-cut arm extended, the Dark takes Orion's hand, and the two set off on an adventure to get to the bottom of Orion's nighttime fears. Reminiscent of Oliver Jeffers, Yarlett's illustrations are a joyful mix of digital collage, sketchbook, and saturated watercolor done in a palette of blueberry and Starburst candies. Many pictures invite close inspection, adding quirky details that fill out the story. Orion's adventures replace fear with fun, ending with a hug, a new friend, and a well- traveled pair of bunny slippers. Only sweet dreams ahead with this one., Fantastic story about facing your fears, full of humor, momentum, trust and and moving parts. There are a couple of cut-out pages that enhance the story, providing a physical transition - Dark's arm reaching out, and later, holding close. The pages are so detailed that it's a difficult layout to do as a read aloud with an entire class, but in small groups it would work, where children will want to pause regularly during the reading to absorb the iteration and detail on the pages. I love how when Orion faces the biggest 'dark' he knows, the outside dark, night sky and Dark comes into his room, Orion's manner insist he greet Dark politely. The endearing anthropomorphism of Dark and his imagination, which is as big as the Orions's show children how fears and worries can be transformed into 'friends'. Yarlett's color palette for this is gorgeous with plenty of teal and blue and occasional orange/pink. My favorite spread is the arrival of day! Dark and Orion's characters' pop and I love her great variety of font in the asides., Author-illustrator Emma Yarlett first caught my attention with her picture book Sidney, Stella, and the Moon, and now I can't stop re-reading her newest offering, Orion and the Dark. One glance at the cover and my book-stuffed heart says, "Yay!" My instincts rarely fail, and neither does Yarlett. Orion's fears are myriad: dogs, deep water, monsters, plaid. But the most terrifying thing of all looms at the end of each day, hovering at the top of a steep climb up to Orion's bed: the Dark. Despite his most creative solutions, bedtimes-and the Dark-are unavoidable. But delightfully, the Dark is less monstrous than Orion feared. Together, they explore and de-scary all the nighttime sounds and places, from closets and drains to ceiling fans and snoring. Yarlett is the best kind of author-illustrator, incorporating exciting fonts into her whimsical images, pulling the reader in again and again. Her text is simple enough for young children, but clever asides will keep adults entertained. Quirky sketches and thought bubbles fill each colorful page to perfection. Best of all are two die-cut pages in which the Dark literally embraces Orion-and the reader's imagination. Night-shy children will find companionship in Orion and comfort in the Dark's gentle, friendly appearance, while grown-up readers will invent excuses to keep this book on their own shelves., At some point most young kids (even some older ones) have fears about the dark. Bedtime and nighttime in general can set a child's imagination alight and sometimes there is just no convincing them that there is no mutant alien in the wardrobe! Orion and the Dark is a brilliant and completely stunning picture book for children that tackles these widespread fears of darkness beautifully and cleverly. The little boy, Orion is scared of a lot of things, but most of all, he's scared of the dark. He has tried countless ways and explored many options for avoiding the dark, but nighttime always comes. But one night, everything changes. Dark really does come to Orion, in the form of a friend who take his hand and shows him the reality of darkness and all it contains. On their adventure they investigate where all the spooky sounds and creepy shadows came from, giving answers to so many questions. Dark teaches Orion a new understanding of darkness and the two become great friends. This book completely won us over. Not only is is visually beautiful and full of intricate illustrations that you and the kids can pour over, but it is such a clever way to communicate the reality of nighttime and darkness to young children. With young children ourselves we know the challenges darkness can bring to a family. This book is a fabulous conversation starter and offers a new perspective on darkness for kids. The kids adore the die-cut pages as well!, 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.

Emma Yarlett graduated from University College Falmouth in 2011 and since then has finished her debut picture book, created animation artwork for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and has illustrated a non-fiction book by Julia Donaldson.

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