Review Detail

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.