Darkness

by Mildred Pitts Walter, Marcia Jameson (Illustrator)

Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Mildred Pitts Walter uses her voice of understanding to dispel fear of the dark by reminding us of wonderful things that happen in the dark. Marcia Jameson's poetic illustrations combine with the quietly convincing prose to proclaim that darkness is beautiful. Full color.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Library Binding

First published October 1, 1995

About the author

Delegate to the 2nd World Black and African Festival of the Arts & Culture in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1977. Graduate of Southern University with an MA in education from Antioch College. She lives in Denver, Colorado, and travels widely as an educational consultant.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous language by author Mildred Pitts Walter (African-American author, winner of Coretta Scott King award for justin and the best biscuits in the world) is matched by the rich and mysterious colors of the acrylic painting-illustrations by Marcia Jameson (in her first children's picture book). The book begins: "Are you afraid of the dark? Whether your answer is yes or no, think of all the things that happen in the dark. Some wonderful things happen when there is no light." If your imagination is working, maybe you will think of some of these things before you even turn the page: shooting stars, seeds sprouting in darkness, evening when friends and family gather together "for laughter and talk." There are some unusual images in the book, of shadows ("the closest thing to us"), and "the dark inside our minds." Perhaps older children, say 5 or 6, will enjoy having this book read to them, and revel in the comforting and striking images it conjures. https://www.harpercollins.com/author/...

[Danni Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book which celebrates darkness in all its many forms. The vibrant illustrations are magnificent works of art all on their own, and enhance the powerful text even more. I highly recommend this one.

[Robyn Simmons · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells about the things that happen in the dark. It also explains how life begins in the dark, when babies are inside of their mother's womb. Seeds grow in the dark. Sea life is dark. Dark clouds bring rain to nourish the earth. Shadows are dark. Evening is dark and moonlight is dark. This story can be incorporated into a science lesson based on light and darkness. The teacher and the students can make a list on the board to name things that need sunlight in order to survive. Many students have the misconception that many things need light in order to survive. This book can make students think about what indeed happens in the dark.