Book Review: The Darkest Dark

THE DARKEST DARK by Chris Hadfield is based on the true story of a young boy who became an astronaut.

Set in the late 1960s, this beautifully illustrated picture book follows a young boy who pretends he’s an astronaut. His fear of the dark keeps him up at night until he dreams of being an astronaut. Discovering the beauty and power of space helps him overcome his fear.

The book concludes with a short biographical sketch by the author and family photos. Hadfield became the first Canadian to walk in space.

Librarians will find this attractive picture book to be an effective way to introduce biographies to young children. After reading the book, share photos and short videos from the author’s website to extend the experience.

To learn more about the astronaut author, go to http://chrishadfield.ca/.

Published on September 6, 2016 by Little Brown, imprint of Hachette. ARC courtesy of the publisher.