The Darkest Dark

An uplifting, valuable addition to the “scared of the dark” bookshelf and a must for the budding space explorer (or really, any dreamer).

Canadian astronaut Hadfield and collaborator Fillion tell the story of young Chris, who loves space but can't bear his own room once the lights are out. It's 1969, and Chris's parents tell him that if he can't stay in his own bed, he won't be able to go watch the moon landing on the neighbor's TV the following evening. The moon landing is mind-boggling in itself, but something even more important catches Chris's attention: "He'd never really noticed how dark it was there. Outer space was the darkest dark ever." This new dark holds infinite promise, and it makes the ordinary dark of his bedroom less daunting. The Fan brothers (The Night Gardener) switch easily between fantasy elements (furry aliens with glowing eyes lurk in Chris's bedroom) and documentary images (the snowy pictures of the moon landing on the neighbors' TV screen). The idea that a famous astronaut was once afraid of the dark may win some recalcitrant bed-goers' hearts, and readers with dreams of space travel will jump at this. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Rick Broadhead, Rick Broadhead & Associates. Illustrators' agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Agency. (Sept.)

PreS-Gr 2--Canadian astronaut Hadfield presents an uplifting tale about a boy whose deep-rooted fears are eclipsed by the potency and possibility of his dreams for the future. It's July 1969, and Chris spends his days piloting his cardboard-box rocket, battling extraterrestrials, and voyaging to distant planets. But at night, fear of the dark has him seeing terrifying shadow aliens everywhere and seeking safety in his parents' bed. Everything changes when he watches the Apollo 11 moon landing on television and catches an awestruck glimpse of outer space, "the darkest dark ever." Later, unsettling shadows still occupy his unlit room, but Chris is different: with eyes newly opened to "the power and mystery and velvety black beauty of the dark," he can't wait to explore the night sky--a dream that will always keep him company (and ultimately come true). Rendered in graphite and digitally colored in dusky hues, the luminous illustrations provide realistic portrayals of the action along with emotionally evocative depictions of the fantastical elements, from the just-menacing-enough coal black silhouettes of nighttime creatures to a wonder-filled dreamscape showing the pajama-clad space-helmeted boy (and his loyal pug companion) floating above his bed surrounded by stars and planets, rocket ships, and animals. Back matter includes a biography, a reassuring message from the author, and photos. VERDICT A splendid story for soothing night fears, fostering future explorers, and teaching children that not even the sky's the limit when it comes to dreaming big.--Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal