Spark in the Dark

A Spark in the Dark is a book to read aloud, a book to share, and a book to return to whenever you need it.
There is light, and there is dark.

Reviews

“A tiny fish, utterly lost in the deep, dark sea . . . delivers a profound lesson for children and adults alike. . . . The dark ocean closes around the fish, leaving it with a swirl of emotions: fear, anger, confusion, and sadness. The full-color artwork, done in watercolors, powerfully conveys the blue-black isolation of the ocean, punctuated by sparks of light . . . But the text reminds us, these lights can go off and may lead in the wrong direction, advising us to keep searching, and assuring that eventually a ‘spark’ will show us the way back.” — Booklist (starred review)“An exploration of light and darkness featuring a little orange fish. . . . The text—often white against the deep blues of the ocean—reassuringly notes that the darkness can make us feel frightened, lost, or angry, and many children will enjoy the comical expressions on the fish’s face. Art, layout, and text create a soothing and often humorous mood.” — Kirkus Reviews“On one level, this is the story of a little orange fish who swims too far down into the inky blackness of the ocean, becomes lost and disoriented but perseveres, and eventually makes it back up to the ‘warm and welcoming’ sunlight zone. Below the surface, though . . . [this] is a comforting meditation on coping with adversity and not giving in to despair. . . . The immensely satisfying ending comes full circle, back above the water under a star-filled sky.” — Horn Book Magazine