Stringer, Lauren. The Dark Was Done. Beach Lane, 2022. 978-1-534-46393-3. 48 p. $18.99. Grades PK-3.

The Dark Was Done spins a modern folktale about when the Dark, tired of being pushed away by lights and fears of humanity, decides to leave the earth. Initially, the boy at the center of the story and those around him do not miss the dark and go on with their daily business. But over time, the boy begins to realize what he has lost–the song of crickets, the hoot of owls, the stars–and goes on a journey to find the Dark and persuade it to return. Along the way, the boy is joined by others yearning for that which is missing. As the voice of one boy becomes the voice of many, the Dark is persuaded to return… and embraces the community that, in turn, embraces it.

THOUGHTS: Lauren Stringer’s illustrations are a wonderful compliment to her writing, reflecting the Dark’s personification in the text as a warm, mysterious entity. The people in the community are as diverse as they are foolish and frequently strike a fanciful note with their peaked caps. Small details, like the teddy bear the boy brings on his journey, a burglar portrayed as a racoon, and speech bubbles that illustrate the joys of night that the community is missing make the story both child-friendly and worthy of reading again and again. A beautiful story with beautiful illustrations. Highly recommended.

Picture Book          Hannah J. Thomas, Central Bucks SD