The Dark by Lemony Snicket (review)

The dark that fills the shadowy corners and the pitch-black basement of Laszlo’s old creaky house pays a visit to the boy in his bedroom one night. A nervous Laszlo asks what the dark wants, and it replies, “I want to show you something.” Laszlo checks the closet and behind the shower curtain, but it’s the basement where the dark wants him to go. Summoning his courage, Laszlo descends the stairs as the dark beckons him to come closer to a chest of drawers, where the boy finds a stash of glowing light bulbs the same size as the burnt-out one in his nightlight. Laszlo thanks the dark and returns to bed, visiting the basement next morning to say “Hi” to the dark; while the dark doesn’t answer, the still-open bottom drawer looks like a smile, and the dark “never bothered him again.” This is an offbeat—and spookily atmospheric—approach to fear of the dark, with a creative story and high-impact artwork The limited perspective of Laszlo’s flashlight beam, shrouded around the edges in opaque blackness, allows for a pleasantly creepy build-up of suspense that is then cheerily deflated by the surprise benevolence of the dark. Klassen’s slightly retro gouache and digital art in attractive, muted tones is a perfect match for the text, with the diminutive Laszlo, clad in blue footie pajamas, a fine foil for all the matte black space lurking in doorways and behind curtains; sharp-eyed viewers will note the absence of Laszlo’s ever-present flashlight at book’s end, once he’s made peace with the dark. Kids comfortable with delicious shivers will find this an enjoyable thrill.