A Spark in the Dark

A Spark in the Dark
Author(s)
Genre(s)
Age Range
4+
Release Date
November 01, 2022
ISBN
978-0063136533
Buy This Book
      
A powerful picture book about the ocean of feelings inside all of us.
Whether you are mad, sad, scared, or lost in the dark, there’s always hope—a spark of light to lead you back home. A Spark in the Dark is a book to read aloud, a book to share, and a book to return to whenever you need it.
There is light, and there is dark. But sometimes the dark creeps up and surrounds you. Still, even in those deep, dark moments, you can always find a spark of light, if you look. Because while you need light to find your way through the dark, you also need dark to see the light.

Author-artist Pam Fong’s gentle text and luminous artwork guide readers through the dangers and marvels of the deep sea with an expressive little fish who must find its way home. A lush and moving picture book that gives young readers—and their parents—a way to think about and talk about the wide ocean of emotions that everyone feels.

A Spark in the Dark is an exceptional choice for social and emotional learning that belongs on shelves beside Cori Doerrfeld’s The Rabbit Listened, Dan Santat’s After the Fall, and Aliki's Feelings.

Editor review

1 review
lovely picture book
Overall rating
 
4.5
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
N/A
Writing Style
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
A SPARK IN THE DARK is a poetic book about the sensation of getting lost in the dark. The book is told with lyrical language as a fish travels from the light to the dark. The book focuses on the negative emotions that can be felt in the dark but also the hope of a little bit of light found within. The book concludes by saying that sometimes you need the dark to see the light, demonstrated by the stars at night.

What I loved: This is a really elegant picture book that deals with a hefty metaphor. The metaphor of the dark and the light might go over little ones' heads, but the sensation of being afraid of the dark and looking for some light will be relatable literally even if not figuratively. The illustrations are lush and feature a cute little fish who has found themselves in the dark, conveying the ocean story in the pictures albeit not totally conveyed with the text. The text itself is clear and brief throughout, which will work well for children who love to explore the images and turn pages quickly.

Final verdict: While the metaphor may go over the heads of little ones, A SPARK IN THE DARK is a lovely picture book about hope and searching for the light in any situation.
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