If you love beautiful, captivating read-alouds, Beatrice Likes the Dark, written by April Genevieve Tucholke and illustrated by Khoa Le, is a must! It is the story of two sisters who could not be more dissimilar but find a way to help each other while celebrating their individuality, too.
Beatrice Likes the Dark is Picture Book Perfection!
Ready to hear about one of the best new picture books of 2022? I fell instantly in love (like head over heels in love!) with this beauty! Beatrice Likes the Dark is a brilliant read-aloud for kindergarten on up, and the mood-setting illustrations are simply to die for.
Beatrice Likes the Dark is a wonderful story about differences within families, in this case, two sisters. It is a reminder that we can bridge gaps – even when they seem insurmountable – when we learn to accept others for who they are and strive for acceptance and understanding. Gosh, I love this book!
Happily Ever Elephants participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
Check out Beatrice Likes the Dark at these links!
Big sister Beatrice likes the dark.
As the title proclaims, Beatrice likes the dark. The darker, the better.
Things Beatrice loves: her black pajamas with bats on them, spiders, dark attics and mysterious, enchanted forests. Beatrice understands moonbeams and owls and skies full of stars. Things she does NOT understand? Talking, talking, talking. Sunny days. Bright light and loud noises.
Most of all, Beatrice does not understand her sister, Roo.
Little sister Roo likes the light.
Little sister Roo, on the other hand, likes the light, and the light loves Roo. She loves everything bright and everything loud from the hottest, sunniest days to birthday parties to wearing multi-colored clothes. Roo understands balloons and marbles and blue skies – anything joy-filled and vibrant.
Things Roo does not understand? Black pajamas with bats on them, moonbeams and dark skies full of stars. And most of all, Roo does not understand her big sister Beatrice.
Can two sisters overcome their stark differences?
How can Beatrice and Roo get along when they are so very different?
The two girls share a bed in their cozy farmhouse. Yet despite their closeness in proximity, they may as well be oceans apart. Even their dreams are different, with Beatrice envisioning all things dark and spooky (did I mention this is a fabulous book to read around Halloween?!) and Roo dreaming of everything light and bright.
One evening, as Beatrice tiptoes out of their share bedroom to head up to the dark attic, Roo calls out to her: “Beatrice, don’t leave me alone. I’m scared of the dark dark dark.”
What ensues is one sister helping another, reaching through cobwebs to turn the frightening into something fantastical.
Beatrice finds a brilliant way to make Roo comfortable when she ventures out of her comfort zone. In turn, Roo discovers a way to bring Beatrice into the light. Both Beatrice and Roo’s actions exemplify how initial confusion over another’s passion can give way to acceptance when approached with an open mind and a willingness to seek understanding. Through small gestures, the sisters exercise kindness, compassion and a tender appreciation for the others’ anxieties.
Beatrice Likes the Dark reminds us to “love each other, all the same.”
Perhaps my favorite takeaway from Beatrice Likes the Dark is the fact that neither sister alters what she loves for the other, nor does either sister seek to change the other. Instead, Beatrice and Roo recognize they “can love each other, all the same.” Give me all the heart-eyes, here!
Simply put, this book is enchanting. I was immediately mesmerized by the lyrical prose and the rich melody the words take on as you read them aloud. Pair this with enchanting illustrations – both the light and dark palettes are exquisite – and you have a perfect pairing.
Any unique story that shows different types of children (in this case, siblings) learning to live in harmony and understanding as they seek to bridge their differences will sell me quickly if done well.
And this one doesn’t just do it well. Beatrice Likes the Dark hits it out of the park, and this book stole a small piece of my heart.
Bravo!
Check out the book at these links!
Have you read Beatrice Likes the Dark? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
RELATED: We’ve got more than 100 children’s book lists on Happily Ever Elephants. Be sure to check out this link!
Leave a Reply