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Young readers join Alexander as he braves the lurking shadows in his dark room at bedtime in this engaging children’s book. When his mom announces it’s time for bed, Alexander hesitates to crawl into his bed and close his eyes. He sees the creepy shadows on his wall and wonders why the monsters have come for him. He’s much too afraid to fall asleep. Even though he is scared, he knows he must face these monsters if he ever wants to get to sleep.
Although it is a rule to never speak to the children, the four shadows—Ritzi, Mozzarella, Jangles, and Daisy—begin talking to Alexander. Because they have never spoken to him before, Alexander’s fear grows more than ever. When the shadows see how afraid he is, they show kindness to the boy by telling him great stories of their adventures. He decides he must be brave, so he runs downstairs and brings the shadow monsters a cookie to share. He soon begins to realize that the shadows aren’t there to hurt him. And when he recognizes his own bravery, he falls right to sleep.
The author expertly explores a common and relatable childhood fear in her book. Like many children his age, Alexander is scared of what may be waiting for him in the dark. Millard’s encouraging story gives children a different perspective on the scary things that keep them up at night. This lighthearted tale of a boy who learns to be courageous, even in the midst of his fear, will undoubtedly inspire young readers to find their own courage and strength to make it through the night.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review