Commentaire descriptif

Bravery in the face of fear is the message so viscerally brought to young readers in this dramatic and poetic book. When a child’s nightlight burns out, the dark speaks to him. Slowly, inexorably, little Laszlo is urged down to the basement. Atmospheric language sets the mood: “The dark lived in the same house as Laszlo, a big place with a creaky roof, smooth, cold windows, and several sets of stairs.” In daytime the dark is manageable, hiding in a closet or behind the shower curtain. Mostly it stays in the basement. The story builds suspense with quiet mastery: “At night, of course, the dark went out and spread itself against the windows and doors of Laszlo’s house.” Sombre illustrations in strong, straight lines and subtle layers of colour wash increase the tension. The sole figure of Laszlo negotiates a house bereft of any sign of family, pets and the soft, comforting furnishings we associate with home. With the exception of his tiny bed, Laszlo’s house is all bare floorboards and long shadows. Brave Laszlo transforms his relationship with the dark, and the dark directs him to a new bulb for his nightlight. As the book says: “Without a creaky roof, the rain would fall on your bed, and without a smooth cold window, you could never see outside.”