MOLLY, OLIVE, AND DEXTER
Who's Afraid of the Dark?
From the Molly, Olive, and Dexter series
by Catherine Rayner ; illustrated by Catherine Rayner
Three best friends wrestle with their fears of the unknown and their own overactive imaginations.
In this latest in the popular series, Molly the hare, Olive the owl, and Dexter the fox encounter a new challenge when the sun sets one evening. As they watch the world grow darker, each frets about an odd noise, feeling, or sight; each time, they reassure one another that all is well: “What’s that sound?” “It’s only me—I was washing my whiskers.” Then a strange rumbling comes from the sky, and something starts to fall from the heavens. Are the pals’ fears justified this time? No! It’s just the rain. The lovely cadences of Rayner’s text neatly amplify the trio’s anxieties with alliterative flair: “The more they look and listen, the more they wonder and worry.” The author/illustrator deftly traverses the line between the deliciously scary and the reassuringly cozy. Her mixed-media artwork soars, whether depicting a cheery day full of sunshine or the eerie dusky darkness of prairie plants in a thunderstorm’s gloom. This tale might even make for a wonderfully reassuring read on a stormy day—or night.
Chills and thrills, presented in a soothingly sweet package.
(Picture book. 3-6)