The Dark

Jule Ann pounds on the bottom of a cookie jar, and a small dark lump bounces out. The Dark quickly gobbles up every shadow in sight, growing bigger with each one. Munsch's plucky heroine resolves the perplexing problem with brilliant, spirited logic.

Children's Literature

When Jule Ann comes downstairs for breakfast and dumps a small dark lump out of her cookie jar, she has no idea that she has just unleashed the Dark, a veritable shadow-eating monster. Jule Ann's father immediately throws the Dark out the window and it gleefully hops down the street consuming everything (well at least every shadow) in its path. Within hours, the whole city is blanketed in darkness. This, of course, upsets Jule Ann greatly and she devises a clever scheme to get the Dark back where he belongs. Written for a child who was afraid of the dark, this story is, unfortunately, somewhat less-than inspiring but is ultimately saved by the illustrator. 1997 (orig.

Robert Munsch is the author of more than 25 books for children including The Paper Bag Princes and Stephanie's Ponytail. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and studied to be a Jesuit priest before deciding to work with children instead. He taught in a variety of nursery schools and daycare centers while he earned an MA in Early Childhood Education. In 1975, Munsch and his wife, Ann, moved to Guelph, Ontario. The Munschs have three children: Julie, Andrew, and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!).

Michael Martchenko has illustrated over 30 books for children and has exhibited his work throughout North America. He has won numerous awards for design and illustration. He lives with his wife, Patricia, in Toronto.