The Shadow [Library Binding]

Donna Diamond (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

A young girl confronts her fears in an eerie, wordless picture book featuring stunning, hyper-realistic illustrations.

It’s an ordinary afternoon. A child comes home, heads upstairs, and sprawls on the floor to do some drawing under the watchful eyes of a pair of favorite dolls. But there’s another character in this wordless story: the shadow, unnoticed at first, then slowly creeping into her field of view. It’s a terrifying sight. Will the girl cower, or will she take on this shadow and tell it who’s boss? And where will the shadow go from there? With mesmerizing intensity, this dreamlike story tells an unflinching tale about recognizing and staring down one’s fears — if only for a time.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 1-3–A little girl comes in from playing outside, and a shadow follows her into the house. Although this is a wordless picture book, readers immediately sense something untoward and carefully follow the protagonist up the stairs to her room. As she sits on her bedroom floor drawing, the shadow lies in the background, waiting. The girl swivels around, sees the eerie shape, and cowers behind a chair. Courage prevails, however; she stares the shadow down, and, by turning on a light, banishes it from the room. Thus far this is an empowering story about a child standing up to her fears. In the final spread, the little girl is asleep in bed, and seemingly all is well. That is, until readers turn to the last page, where the menacing shadow is seen, eyes aglow as in a Halloween mask, hiding under the bed. The menace remains present, and readers are left fearing for the girl's safety. The dark intensity of the art and the unresolved ending make this a book for children old enough to understand that this story is not to be taken literally. This is a great example of mood in a picture book, but it is not for storytime. Joanna Harrison's Dear Bear (Carolrhoda, 1994), Ed Emberley's Go Away, Big Green Monster (Little, Brown, 1992), and Judith Mathews's Nathaniel Willy, Scared Silly (S & S, 1994) are lighter looks at conquering fears.Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
© Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

About the Author

Donna Diamond has illustrated numerous children’s books and book jackets, including Katherine Paterson’s BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA. She lives in Riverdale, New York.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (July 13, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763648787
• ISBN-13: 978-0763648787
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 0.4 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,036,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Warning- read this book before your children see it!, November 18, 2010

By 

ReadingMom - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shadow (Library Binding)

This is the first time I have felt the need to advise others before reading a children's book. I just read it with my 3.5 year and 5 year old and they were scared by the image of the menacing shadow. Now my 3 year old does not want to be alone in any room and was too afraid to nap alone. I understand that the illustrations are beautiful and the message is about overcoming your fears but an adult may need to read it and make a call before sharing it with sensitive children.

1.0 out of 5 stars Not a children's book., September 12, 2011

By 

Jason Booth (Boise, ID USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shadow (Library Binding)

This is the first time I have ever felt compelled to write a review of any kind, but I feel a warning needs to go out to anyone interested in sharing this book with younger children. I'll agree with the previous reviews that the art work in this book is very well done and even thought provoking. That said, as a parent PLEASE review this book before reading it to or handing it over to a child. Any progress we have made with our four year old in dispelling the idea of a 'boogie man' or 'monsters' in her bedroom are completely undone by this book. Bad on us as parents for not reading first, but this is not a children's book.

5.0 out of 5 stars An Ominous Little Shadow, May 20, 2011

By 

Peter Shahrokh "forget it" (polar bear hollow, Artic) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Shadow (Library Binding)

This book with no words is a gem for young "readers". It subtly tells a story of a somewhat sinister shadow that follows a little girl through part of her day. The illustrations are rich and delightful in their portrayal of the little girl and her silent companion. It's the kind of book which may become a favorite just because it is a wee bit scary without overdoing it at all.