Ages 4-7. When a young boy is awakened in the middle of the night, strange noises and shadows make things seem scary indeed. Eerie pictures with unusual perspectives heighten the tension. (Ag 87)

In welcome contrast to the many books like There's a Nightmare in My Closet, here's a realistic story about the resolution of nighttime fears. When the boy narrator wakes, it's dark and the wind is howling. When the lights don't work, he and dog Biff set out to find his parents--but their bed is empty. Everything seems scary in the dark house; but each time a new fear looms, the boy figures out what is frightening him--tree branches against the window, the clock striking twelve. Then his own image, carrying the white dog, gleams out of the mirror and so startles him that he cries out, which rouses his parents--kept awake by the banging branches, they were sleeping downstairs on the sofa. Candles and a good four-in-a-bed snuggle make a cozy conclusion; though the boy has dealt sensibly with all his fears, it's comforting to know where his parents are. Carrick's dark scenes are painted with his usual sure touch, making the familiar believably spooky as lit by a full moon through the breaking clouds of a storm-filled sky. A pleasant story about self-reliance; sure to be useful. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2 Near midnight on a windy night in late autumn, a small boy awakens. Not only are the nighttime sounds frightening to him and his dog, but the lights aren't working and his parents aren't in their bedroom. He confronts creaks and howling (both his and the dog's) before he finds his parents, who are sleeping downstairs, and who comfort him. Bunting masterfully paces her story, with each fear of the child climaxing in his discovery of the basis for the sound. The images that frighten the narrator will also make young readers and listeners feel shivery, but in each case, the rational explanation will reassure them. The narrator's range of emotionsbeing scared but trying not to show it, transferring his feelings to his dog, and his overwhelming relief at finding his fatheris marvelously portrayed in the text through small details. Bunting also provides a range of sensory details that make the boy's experiences readily identifiable. The text is extended by Carrick's paintings, most of which brood with the darkness and mystery of a house in the night. Each is a full page-and-a-third; all show a remarkable vitality. Carrick's palette, and the book's tone, change completely when the boy, with his parents, is no longer afraid: warm, comforting gold tones then enrobe the family. A book that provides the perfect blend of chills and comfort. David Gale, ``School Library Journal'' (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Jake wakes up in the middle of the night, scaring himself when he touches his dog Biff's cold, wet nose. The light switch doesn't work. The door squeaks, the wind whistles outside and his parents aren't in their bedroom. The sudden boom of the clock declares the hour of midnightghost's hour, spook hour! The dark distorts the outlines and sizes of things, and the mirror plays tricks of illusion and displacement. Then the room is flooded with light and Jack's parents are there, arms open and welcoming. A terrifying account of being cast away in the middle of darkness and groping for light, Bunting's text emphasizes all the spooky sound effects. Carrick's splendid paintings view Jake's journey from many angles, with rooms that loom larger with every heartbeat and corners full of horrible shadows. And the moments of dread and stupefaction are evident in Jake's wide eyes. Ages 3-6. (September) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

K-Gr 3-This follow-along book and cassette compassionately captures a child's fears of storms, of the dark, and of being left alone. The plot is realistic and simplistic enough for children to understand and follow. Jake and his sacred dog, Biff, wake up one night to an eerie sound. He turns on the light in his room, but it does not come on. Jake decides to go sleep with his parents, but they are not in their bedroom. Trying to be brave for his dog's sake, he goes downstairs to check and that is when he hears the clock chiming midnight. After a series of comical events, Jake finds his mom and dad sleeping in the living room. His mom tells Biff that it is okay to be scared during the storm, that we all get scared sometimes. The book's illustrations by Donald Carrick complement Eve Bunting's story (HM, 1987) through their soft lines and darker colors which depict an image of mystery and night. Suitable for individual use, this package would be an excellent addition to school and public library read-along collections. The spooky tone of the story may lend itself well to a Halloween collection as well.-Sarah Smith, Harrison Community Library, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.