"The dark is for dreaming.
While you dream, your brain
is hard at work, crackling with
ideas bright as sparks.
And sometimes, freed from
all its daytime thoughts, your
mind picks away at a problem
and untangles it.
And you are not the only one ... "
Darkness can be scary; there is no doubt. Still, it is many other things to humans and animals if you just stop to think about it. Laura Alary provides different scenarios that encourage her readers to consider how dark affects the world in interesting ways. How do you feel about the dark?
She begins with a human baby as it develops in the womb's darkness, and moves on to share that sunflowers, baby birds, turtles, crocodiles and snakes all do the same. Their dark is for growing. She then encourages thought about how the dark helps with healing while sleeping. Dreaming offers a space for solving problems, and for sparking ideas that may not be evident while awake.
Offering thoughts for careful consideration, and then allowing that children are not the only ones who have an awareness of darkness and its benefits, Ms. Alary leaves room for discussion and extensions of the ideas shared. The artwork is expressive and fascinating. It is colorful and detailed, encouraging readers to pay careful attention to what is included as these comparions are drawn.
In the end, those who share this book are encouraged to think about the wonder that is darkness.
"There are some things -
wonderful things -
you see best in the dark.
Fireflies.
The moon.
The stars.
The dark is for wonder ... "
Now, how do you feel about the dark?
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