Flashlight - Hardcover

James, Betsy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0679979700 ISBN 13: 9780679979708

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 1997

Synopsis

Waking up in the dark at Grandpa's house can be scary--the door in the hallway looks like a cave, and that noise could be a bear. Lucky for Marie, the bear is really Grandpa, who's come to offer some reassurance and a flashlight that will make the dark house a lot less spooky. The beam of the flashlight makes the shadows disappear, reveals familiar objects, and illuminates the moths and mosquitoes dancing against the screen door. From the warmth of its light comes a newfound strength--suddenly even bears can be tamed, and one little girl's fear of the dark melts away. Stacey Schuett's vibrant illustrations perfectly capture the mood of this bedtime adventure as well as the special bond between a child and her wise grandpa.  

About this title

From the Inside Flap

the dark at Grandpa's house can be scary--the door in the hallway looks like a cave, and that noise could be a bear. Lucky for Marie, the bear is really Grandpa, who's come to offer some reassurance and a flashlight that will make the dark house a lot less spooky. The beam of the flashlight makes the shadows disappear, reveals familiar objects, and illuminates the moths and mosquitoes dancing against the screen door. From the warmth of its light comes a newfound strength--suddenly even bears can be tamed, and one little girl's fear of the dark melts away. Stacey Schuett's vibrant illustrations perfectly capture the mood of this bedtime adventure as well as the special bond between a child and her wise grandpa.

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 2?James successfully captures a common childhood fear in this story of Marie, who is spending the night in her grandfather's living room. As the child worries about strange smells and shadows, her understanding grandfather gives her a flashlight of her own. Besides its usefulness in illuminating dark corners, it provides Marie with a sense of power. She becomes "queen of the night world" in control of shadows and moths and light and dark. Finally comforted, she drifts off to sleep holding her trusty friend. Schuett's illustrations blend with the text beautifully to reflect the dark and dreamlike mood, lifted by the addition of the flashlight's beam. White text on black pages contributes to the nighttime ambiance. The feeling of autonomy is well portrayed in Marie's joyous stance. As in her Mary Ann (Dutton, 1994), James takes a problem and adroitly sheds light on a suitable solution.?Anne Knickerbocker, Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0679979700
• ISBN 13: 9780679979708
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32