I'm Not Very Afraid Of The dark

I'm (Not) Very #1

by Anna Milbourne

This is a book about a child who is afraid of the dark. The book follows the little boy as he tells the reader all about the approaching darkness one evening, revealing his fear as he goes to bed, showing shapes in his bedroom that look like monsters (which change into ordinary things when he switches the light on). When the boy goes on a camping trip, he comes to realize that the dark has its place, and perhaps isn’t so terrible after all. After all, it’s only when it’s truly dark, that you can see the stars. With a playful, clever and beautiful use of laser-cut holes, the book shows shadows getting bigger and taking over the boy’s world, the dark bedroom shapes looking like monsters, and then transforming, in the turn of a page, to be just ordinary things in the boy’s bedroom, and a breath-taking scene of hundreds of stars in the night sky.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Growing up in North West England and in Germany, Anna wrote plays about talking animals, and stories about naughty children, and drew on every available surface. After school, she did an Art Foundation course, then a degree in German Literature & Philosophy at Oxford University. In 1998 she found her perfect job at Usborne in London, writing about everything from curious penguins to trips to the Moon. Usborne.com

Reviews

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The little boy is scared of the dark and the things which could be hidden in the dark. His dad shows him that using a torch can help him feel less scared. The little boy realises that he can only see the stars when it is dark and begins to be less scared. There are cut outs on each page which are very clearly done to show things in their scary but also harmless form across the pages. A great book to explore the dark with young children and talk about feelings and worries, seeing the good in things that scare them.

[Ina Korsgaard Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leste den norske versjonen med 2-åringen min som akkurat har begynt å kjenne på at mørket er skummelt. Historien tar for seg en mørkredd gutt og hvordan han opplever overgangen fra dag til natt, lyst til mørkt. Man får kjenne litt på det som er skummelt før det ufarliggjøres. Boka har store, fine illustrasjoner med masse spennende detaljer, og masse små hull i sidene som lager skygger i lyset eller lysende øyne i mørket.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Numai când este cu adevarat întuneric pot sa vad toate stelele... și, dacă întunericul n-ar veni, n-ai putea sa vezi niciodată stelele”

[Haniva Zahra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dari kelima buku dari seri ini, saya paling jatuh cinta dengan ilustrasi dari buku ini. Buku ini benar-benar cantik sekali dan sesuai untuk dibaca oleh K yang mulai masuk pada usia takut akan gelap dan imajinasinya sendiri. Buku ini pas dibaca sebagai pengantar tidur dan saya selalu senang membacakannya karena buku ini cantik sekali.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tästä kirjasta pidin todella paljon! Kirja oli visuaalisesti hyvin kaunis ja aukko-kohdat olivat piste i:n päälle.

Kuvakirjan avulla voi käsitellä tunnetaitoja, erityisesti pelkäämistä ja jännittämistä.

[Sanna-Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tämä oli aivan ihastuttava tekele! Pienet leikkausaukot seuraaville ja edellisille sivuille ovat aivan älyttömän hienot. Lisäksi tarina pimeän eri muodoista on hienosti selitetty lapsen tasolle.

[Solveig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kjempefin bok om ikke å være (veldig) mørkeredd.
Kjenner du noen som er redd for mørket?
Da er dette en god samtalebok om mørket og hva mørket kan gjøre for oss
Boken har små hull på nesten hver side, noe som skaper en kjempefin effekt ettersom det er lyst eller mørkt på sidene.

[Alex Matzkeit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein gekonnter Einsatz von Laserschnitt-Technik, der den Unterschied zwischen hell und dunkel schön illustriert. (Auch wenn der Verlag ein bisschen absurd stolz darauf ist mit dem "mit vielen filigranen Laserschnitten"-Blurb auf dem Cover). Die Geschichte ist auch gut gewählt - es stimmt, dass Dunkelheit unter einem Sternenhimmel ganz anders wirkt, als Dunkelheit in einem beengten Raum. Diese große Enthüllung ist gut inszeniert und wirkt angemessen erhaben. Ein prima Vorlesebuch zum Ins-Bett-Gehen.

[Sourimak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une histoire pour dédramatiser la peur du noir, rendre la nuit belle et se rassurer avant de dormir. Écrit à la manière d'un témoignage, le petit garçon raconte ses émotions et chemine de la peur vers l'émerveillement.

[Jamie Gravell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a consistent favorite for B, and I love how it talks about the dark like a child thinks of it. There’s no magical solution, just the reality that you can’t see the stars if not for the dark, but it’s ok to still want a light on at night.

[Ally Bally Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The holes concept is great, but this is basically a How To Be Afraid of the Dark manual.

[Sue Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a little boy who is afraid of the dark until a camping trip with Dad changes his mind! Nicely illustrated with some interesting cut out pages to add interest and humour!

[feux d'artifice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the creative paper cut outs!!!

[Brianna Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has an incredible way of helping children understand the beauty of the dark. It helps them see that the Dark can be filled with shadows, and that it’s okay to be fearful.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wat een heerlijk prentenboek. Leuke kleine doorkijkgaatjes en een verhaal waar veel kindjes van gaan genieten. Tevens zorgt het hopelijk voor minder angst in het donker. Leuk boek!

[Tinker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kekseliäs kuvakirja, jossa on hieno kuvitus ja aukkoja, joita voi valaista taskulampulla. Aivan mahtava ja kaunis kirja.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super original os buraquinhos que o livro tem para criar sombras!
Ideal para os meninos e meninas que têm medo do escuro

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

8/22/21

[Kristin Holbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boys enjoyed seeing the shapes of stars up on ceiling when shining the flashlight on the pages and through the cover. Nice story about being a little afraid of the dark.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the additional cut-outs in the illustration as it elevated the story in such a fun way.

[Nathalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated book showing a little boys fear of the dark but then him seeing that it isn't all that bad. This book would be great for a story time.

[Karine Lelièvre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book to talk about the fear of the dark, but also, it's secrets and benefits. Also, that it's ok to be scared.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Validating fears and helping with reframing to over come them

[Jenny Wüsthoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Hardcover]

Morsom og ikke minst kreativ bruk av utklipp, plassering og tekst. Fin barnebok for småtrinnet

[Jvermeersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Echt mooi vormgegeven met al die uitsnijdingen. Leest vlot.
Herkenbaar voor kleintjes met schrik voor het donker, en draait het goed om tot iets niet-bedreigend.

[Lara Bate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talks about the dark and how a boy is not (very) afraid of the dark.

[Maria Carmo · Rating 3 out of 5]

An inspirational book for kids who are NOT too afraid of the dark!

Lovely.

Maria Carmo,

Lisbon, 20 December 2020-

[Tapani Aulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aivan mahtavan kaunis kirja varjoleikkien leikkimiseen. Täynnä pieniä reikiä, joista taskulampulla saa pimeässä huoneessa upeita efektejä.

[Samantha Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A family favorite!