Flashlight [Hardcover]

Betsy James (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 1997 | Age Level: 3 and up

Waking up in the dark at Grandpa's house can be scary--the door in the hallway looks like a cave, and that noise could be a bear. Lucky for Marie, the bear is really Grandpa, who's come to offer some reassurance and a flashlight that will make the dark house a lot less spooky. The beam of the flashlight makes the shadows disappear, reveals familiar objects, and illuminates the moths and mosquitoes dancing against the screen door. From the warmth of its light comes a newfound strength--suddenly even bears can be tamed, and one little girl's fear of the dark melts away. Stacey Schuett's vibrant illustrations perfectly capture the mood of this bedtime adventure as well as the special bond between a child and her wise grandpa.  

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?James successfully captures a common childhood fear in this story of Marie, who is spending the night in her grandfather's living room. As the child worries about strange smells and shadows, her understanding grandfather gives her a flashlight of her own. Besides its usefulness in illuminating dark corners, it provides Marie with a sense of power. She becomes "queen of the night world" in control of shadows and moths and light and dark. Finally comforted, she drifts off to sleep holding her trusty friend. Schuett's illustrations blend with the text beautifully to reflect the dark and dreamlike mood, lifted by the addition of the flashlight's beam. White text on black pages contributes to the nighttime ambiance. The feeling of autonomy is well portrayed in Marie's joyous stance. As in her Mary Ann (Dutton, 1994), James takes a problem and adroitly sheds light on a suitable solution.?Anne Knickerbocker, Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

While staying overnight at Grandpa's, young Marie is scared once the lights are out: ``Mom and Dad are far away, in the bedroom down the hall.'' She is nervous on the fold-out couch in the living room. Grandpa hears her, and provides a flashlight. Marie experiments. She flicks it on and off, comparing the spotlight to the light of day. She finds that moths love her light, and feels she can protect her sleeping sister from the darkness and the unknown. Her confidence grows till she declares herself queen of the night world, but her fears return, and she must call Grandpa one more time before she whispers, ``Don't be scared, Tibby. I've got a flashlight.'' It is a very familiar scenario, although James (Mary Ann, 1994, etc.) adequately captures the different moods and deliberations of Marie as her self-confidence grows. Schuett has an impossible task: capturing on a static page the flickering of the flashlight and the looming shadows in the room. One inspired spread shows ``whining midges, bumbling June bugs'' clinging to a screen, but many scenes repeat Marie's wide-eyed fear and illumination of homely corners of the apartment. (Picture book. 4-7) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (November 11, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679879706
• ISBN-13: 978-0679879701
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,212,799 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book and Fun!, March 4, 2000

By 

Leslie A. Harris "Leslie in Texas" (Midlothian, Tx USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flashlight (Hardcover)

My daughter loves this book. She is scared of the dark too and loves to play with flashlights. So this book was just for her. The images are soft and familar. If you buy this book, buy some batteries along with it because your kids will head for a flashlight :)