Who's Afraid of the Dark?
(Molly, Olive, and Dexter)

PreS-Gr 1--Children who love to observe the difference that darkness brings to the world will be delighted by this enchanting new tale of Molly and Dexter, both foxes, and Olive the owl. The three supportive best friends return for their latest story. As they sit under their oak tree at the edge of a meadow, they marvel at the beauty of a sunset. As the sky turns from glowing pink to deeper lavender tones, they start to notice the sounds and shadows around them. One by one, they become scared, only to be comforted by another friend who sees the truth of the situation. After initially being frightened by "two dark shapes, stretching over the long grass," they giggle together when Molly reveals that the dark shapes are just shadows cast by her ears. They dance in the shimmering raindrops that fall during an evening rainstorm after initially being confused by the sounds of the storm. Rayner's lush, layered illustrations, created with ink and watercolor details over a screen print, capture the mysterious wonders of the night along with the shifting emotions felt by the three animal friends. VERDICT The animals glow in the illustrations, drawing readers into their magical world while reminding them that facing fears with good friends makes everything better. A recommended purchase--Sally A. James

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