Hello, Dark

In Wai Mei Wong’s debut picture book, a boy lying in bed talks to the darkness. He is afraid. The sun has gone down and now he is wide awake, worrying what the dark will do once he falls asleep. The house creaks, the wind blows against the house. The shadows may be hiding something. The boy feels helpless and alone in the dark, but he is tired of being afraid. So, he talks to the dark instead. He points out the good things the dark does, such as “shield the sun’s bright light so the world can sleep.” Some animals prefer the dark, including the owls who hunt at night. Maybe the boy and the dark can be friends?

Wong’s bedtime story offers strategies to manage a child’s fear of the dark. Her Author’s Note at the end explains what inspired the book and includes other strategies such as mindful breathing or listening to music. Tamara Campeau’s richly drawn illustrations, with their dark colors and nighttime setting, bring out the beautiful details of the darkness instead of its scariness.