A Dark, Dark Cave

by Eric Hoffman, Corey R. Tabor (Illustrator)

On a cold night, under a pale moon, a brother and sister explore a dark, dark cave. Strange creatures skitter along the walls while bats brush past. A wild howl makes the cave feel just a teensy bit darker. But readers are in for a delightful surprise when a beam of light reveals a softer side of the cave.Told in spare rhyming text alongside stunning illustrations, A Dark, Dark Cave will ignite a young reader's imagination and inspire creative play. This just-spooky-enough story is sure to become a read-aloud favorite.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction, Adventure, Animals, Humor

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 24, 2016

Reviews

[Colona Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is about a brother and sister exploring a dark cave that turns out to be a sheet over some kitchen chairs. The kids were using their imagination. I think this would be a great book to read to kids to show them they don't need fancy toys to have some fun.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

What will siblings find in the dark, dark cave? Readers will find a deliciously spooky start to this book with just the right amount of rhyme, rhythm, and repetition before a satisfying denouement.

[Beckyt · Rating 5 out of 5]

After hearing the illustrator speak about this book before publication, I'd been looking forward to seeing the illustrations and reading the story. It was a delight! I like the depiction of the children's imaginative play, wherever the location. So much fun!

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagination is a treasure. Read this aloud in a blanket fort.

[Stephanie (Reading is Better With Cupcakes) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Dark, Dark Cave is a story of two kids exploring a cave. And things happen in the cave, scary things, wonderful things, all sorts of things. Then a father figure appears and knocks the kids back into reality and tells them that they have to play quietly because the baby is asleep. Then they are no longer in a cave, but some where else.

This is a story about imagination. The kids are playing in some sort of blanket/pillow fort that they built in a room in the house. For this story it is a cave, but it really could have been anything.

I don't really like that the parental figure had to show up and ruin the imaginary play. I would have preferred it much more if the story told us it was an imaginary cave in a different manner that didn't make it appear as if us adults are imagination killers (I admit that I could very well be reading way too much into that part of the story).

Otherwise it was a cute story and the illustrations were nice. What you see on the cover is pretty much how all the illustrations look within. It just depends on what is going on in the story on what and how much illustration you get.

This review is based on a copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully imaginative story about play and imagination. Very appealing watercolor, ink and colored pencil illustrations by Caldecott Honor and Geisel Award winner Corey Tabor.

[Ramon Requena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows a brother and sister, with their dog, as they go on an adventure into a dark cave full of creatures. It is then revealed that the cave is a blanket fort in their room and their father wants them to be quiet. They then decide to ride horses, which is not quiet at all. This book is about the power of imagination and the shape it can take in a child's mind.
The media used in this book is that of crayon and water color paint. This makes the book appear to be older, which makes the story feel classic, in turn. The art style is simple and colorful within the darkness of the cave setting.
This book is a creative thought starter for children ans even older readers as a simple blanket or pillow fort can be base for childhood fun. This book can a fun set-up for a creative writing activity in 4th grade where imagination can be supported by inventive storytelling within a household.

[Brittany McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dark, Dark Cave is a short adventure book about a brother and sister who encounter lots of spooky things while walking through a "cave". This book is a WOW book for me because I believe lots of kindergartners and first graders could relate to playing pretend and using their imaginations to have fun with ordinary items around their homes. Additionally, the author was "invested" and began the book as if these two were in reality, walking through a cave. The brother and sister have created a fort using blankets and chairs, but are pretending that it is a cave-that is until their father tells them they are playing too loudly. As a reader, it felt like he interrupted me as well! They then pretend to be horses, but their father asks them to be quiet again. This book would be awesome for teaching reality versus imagination(what is real and what is not) and metaphors.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is so cute!! It reminds me of when my brother & I would build blanket forts in our living room & pretend we were in Indian Jones!! I love picture books that express how vast a child's imagination is.
*Side note: At my library we are having a "Family Fort Night" where we will build blanket forts & I will be reading this story with a flashlight! I think I'm more excited than the kids to build a fort!

[Nicola · Rating 2 out of 5]

She liked the references to the family cat.

Miss 5 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Aarvik · Rating 3 out of 5]

"We read the book "A Dark, Dark Cave" to learn more about dark and shadows today. The book was about a brother, a sister, and their dog exploring a dark cave with flashlights. They see bats, shining eyes and paws and claws, and a big shadow at the end of the cave, which turns out to be their dad opening up their blanket fort!"

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about imagination and what you'll find in a dark dark cave. The rhyming book talks about exploring the cave and the things you'll find until the children are sent outside to play with horses.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of this book is good - fun, to read, has a good ending all by itself, and fits with the title. The second half is really rather like a second book, and the switch from one to the other makes it not hang together very well for me.

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!
I enjoyed the suspenseful journey in the dark, dark cave and the siblings imagination that switched with the light. It took me back to being a kid and making up our own pretend experiences and having to change what we were doing for what ever reason.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts out a bit spooky, then turns into a sweet homage to the joys of imagination and play. And the father's need to remind the kids to quiet down definitely rings true.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful for preschool children identifying mysteries in a cave.

[Linda Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What fun! Pretend play!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagination carries these two siblings to a dark, dark cave. It's a nice enough story about imagination, but I didn't find the illustrations especially appealing.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book lets you see into the imagination of a brother and sister. The illustrations are abstract and imaginative, reflecting what the children would see as they play.

[Alyssa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book tells the story of two kids exploring a dark cave which turns out to be a fort they've created. They use their imaginations as they play to explore a new land.

[Xavier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title ⤵️
A Dark, Dark Cave

Author ⤵️
Eric Hoffman

Rating ⤵️
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thoughts ⤵️
Mesmerizing and bold.

[Miss Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect level of scary for toddlers

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about siblings playing and using their imagination.

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brother and sister explore their imaginations in a dark dark cave, but when Dad peeks into their blanket fort, they have to find a new game.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

A just spooky enough kind of story? Could be interesting.

Oh, I do like the plot twist too. Plus the ending!

FIVE STARS, SOLID.

Thank you, author Eric Hoffman and artist Corey R. Tabor.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids love rhyming right now. This rhyming book about the power of the imagination is very cute.

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

okay. not a lot to it.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was unexpected! Love the twist at the end!

Love the illustrations, and I can totally relate right now to trying to get a baby to sleep and telling kids to quiet it down. Funny.

[Kathy Broadnax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute!!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for a read-aloud. Great use of imaginations. Love the illustrations.