NNFN2023: Who’s Afraid of the Light?

With a glow-in-the-dark cover and its intriguing title, ‘Who’s Afraid of the Light?’ is narrative non-fiction at its best. From the end papers, the reader is pulled into the story by seagulls explaining the story takes place ‘down there’ and this thread is continued by other creatures as the background gets darker until we arrive at the ‘deepest, darkest depths of the ocean’ and a multi-coloured speech bubble introduces Fergus, although there is no sign of him!

Gradually, a picture builds as Fergus answers questions and seeks to avoid various other creatures of the midnight zone as they appear. We learn how well adapted each of these creatures is to their dark habitat and gain clues to form a picture of Fergus until a camera flash reveals the truth, showing Fergus is not what was imagined!

Using humour, a chatty written style and clever illustrations all combine to make this a very appealing and accessible book, sure to be a huge favourite with younger children. Additional information is included in a ‘Do You Know?’ spread at the end of the book, allowing readers to discover more about life in the Midnight Zone with a depth gauge down the side showing the different layers of the ocean. There is so much to learn and enjoy in this book!

Who’s Afraid of the Light? Anna McGregor

Scribble ISBN: 978-1914484353