The book I chose is called, “Who’s Afraid of the Dark?” by Crosby Bonsall. I believe this is an ok book. The parent would have to explain the book to the child for them to understand what is going on. In the book a boy is talking to his friend who is a girl. The boy tells the girl that his dog Stella is afraid of the dark, but really the boy is afraid of the dark. You have to figure that out by the pictures only because the words don’t say that the boy is afraid.

The book starts out with the situation. It shows talking out the problem with a friend which is very useful in later years. It also promotes friendship with animals and people. At the end of the book it gives a solution to the problem of being afraid of the dark. The book suggests that the boy holds his dog and hangs on to her in the dark and let her know that the boy is there. The book says that after a while the dog won’t need him anymore, except just as a friend. Well since the boy is the one who is afraid of the dark, he doesn’t think the dog will comfort him. Then finally the dog climbs up into the boy’s bed and they slept happier ever after.

If my child is afraid of the dark I would read to them. A book that has to do with the problem they are currently facing is always useful. If the child is afraid of something and you notice it, but the child does not ask or tell you about it, it would be very useful to read them a book about the fear or problem. They will not be embarrassed and will solve it on their own if they don’t wan to talk about it. I believe this book is appropriate developmentally because every child is afraid of the dark sometime in their life and they need a way to deal or cope with it. I believe this book would be effective if the parent reads and explains it to the child. It is at children’s level of thinking and situations and it gives a solution to the problem.

Picture from: http://www.harperchildrens.com/teacher/catalog/book_search.asp?a=authorid&b=11823