Darkness Slipped In

Daisy is thinking of a game to play “when Darkness slip[s] in at the end of the day,” begins this arresting book. Unlike many children, Daisy is unafraid of Darkness, here portrayed as kind of sleek black Kokopelli character whose body is thin as he slips through her window but expands to fill the page when Daisy is finally ready for bed. Burfoot's (Bear and Me ) heroine dances the “funky twist” with Darkness, shares lemonade with him and (when she gets tired) finds Darkness to be a comfort. Thanks to spot lamination, his shiny surface is tactile and appealing, and he stands out dramatically against the largely cartoon illustrations. Daisy and Darkness's relationship will be an inspiration to kids struggling with sleep, precisely because Burfoot has skipped over fear, focusing instead on the fun of nighttime. With a succinct rhyming text and art to match, this title is impressive in its simplicity. Ages 3–6. (June)