Night Light: A Story for Children Afraid of the Dark
PreSchool-Grade 2-- A well-meaning, but fragmented, attempt to allay children's fears. Dutro utilizes the technique of metaphor to create a subterranean miniature world in which the Woodlet child, Kalispel, is afraid of the light of day. His friend convinces him to face this fear and they ``find the light at the end of the tunnel . . .'' The concept and psychology are sound, but the story meanders in its flowery language and forced message. The introduction of a human child at story's conclusion creates a confusing distraction that detracts from the magic. Boyle's black-and-white pen drawings are quaintly curious, but lack the vigor necessary to capture and hold the attention of young children. Stay with Robert Crowe's Clyde Monster (Dutton, 1987), Alison Coles's Michael in the Dark (EDC , 1985), Barbara Mossman's The Night Lion (Houghton, 1991), and Joanna Stubbs's With Cat ' s Eyes You'll Never Be Scared of the Dark (Andre Deutsch, 1983; o.p.). --Celia A. Huffman, Cuyahoga County Public Library, ClevelandCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.