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A Dark, Dark Tale
Children will delight in following the black cat's progress through the dark wood, into the dark house, and eventually to the surprise discovery at the back of the toy cupboard, in this mysterious, beautifully illustrated picture book.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
About the author
Ruth Brown
191 books28 followersBorn in 1941, Ruth Brown is the creator of some of Britain's best loved children's books. She has created a great many picture books for Andersen Press and is highly respected as an author and illustrator.
She attended Bournemouth College of Art, 1957–59; Birmingham College of Art, degree (with first-class honors), 1961; Royal College of Art, M.A., 1964.
She is married to artist Ken Brown and they have two grown-up sons and one grandchild.
She attended Bournemouth College of Art, 1957–59; Birmingham College of Art, degree (with first-class honors), 1961; Royal College of Art, M.A., 1964.
She is married to artist Ken Brown and they have two grown-up sons and one grandchild.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
September 29, 2018
This Dark Dark Tale is a study in setting a mood and a tone. This is a beginning reader for any youngster. There are few words. Each page takes you further in or forward to more and more details to focus on. It adds to the suspense. This is brilliant and so much fun. Really.
I love the artwork of this book. Everything is dilapidated and in ruin. It feels spooky when it’s so empty besides a cat. A feeling of quiet oozes from the book. I read this in a hushed tone and the kids were completely engrossed in each page. The tension mounted. This was fun to read. They both loved it and they gave it 5 stars. The nephew could almost read this book, but not quite. It is such a simple story that works because of the simplicity. It’s like Jaws, it’s that unknowing of what is really around. The niece was concerned after the story. It did have an effect on her so I had to tickle her to help reset the mood and she could sleep. It worked a little.
I opened a page with a sweeping curtain and it was like a memory stirred. As children, we didn’t go to the library a lot, but we did go and get books. That picture stirred a memory of this book and I think I read this as a child. It got to the states in 1984 so it’s totally possible this was a school read or something. I don’t remember many of the books I read from the library as a kid as I didn’t write them down, but that picture felt like a leaf rustling in the back of my mind and I do think I read this as a child. I wish I didn’t lose the memory of all the books I read. There are several that I keep trying to figure out the title of that I remember reading the story. In particular, there is one about a forest and a witch that was a read-a-long that I read over and over and I can’t find it. I think this is another one I found. Why wasn’t there Goodreads back then? Le Sigh.
I love the artwork of this book. Everything is dilapidated and in ruin. It feels spooky when it’s so empty besides a cat. A feeling of quiet oozes from the book. I read this in a hushed tone and the kids were completely engrossed in each page. The tension mounted. This was fun to read. They both loved it and they gave it 5 stars. The nephew could almost read this book, but not quite. It is such a simple story that works because of the simplicity. It’s like Jaws, it’s that unknowing of what is really around. The niece was concerned after the story. It did have an effect on her so I had to tickle her to help reset the mood and she could sleep. It worked a little.
I opened a page with a sweeping curtain and it was like a memory stirred. As children, we didn’t go to the library a lot, but we did go and get books. That picture stirred a memory of this book and I think I read this as a child. It got to the states in 1984 so it’s totally possible this was a school read or something. I don’t remember many of the books I read from the library as a kid as I didn’t write them down, but that picture felt like a leaf rustling in the back of my mind and I do think I read this as a child. I wish I didn’t lose the memory of all the books I read. There are several that I keep trying to figure out the title of that I remember reading the story. In particular, there is one about a forest and a witch that was a read-a-long that I read over and over and I can’t find it. I think this is another one I found. Why wasn’t there Goodreads back then? Le Sigh.
August 30, 2013
Absolutely love this book. Not enough words to be a level 1 reader, but a cute, creepy, story that's just in time for the Halloween season coming up. I'm so looking forward to autumn! The pictures are dark and creepy and fun, and my 5 yr old got to learn some new words like "moor" and "passage". For some reason, I seem to remember Ruth Brown as writing some other books I enjoyed as a child, I'll have to look her up and see if I can't get some more from the library! Great addition to our library!
October 15, 2023
The artwork is gorgeous and splendidly spooky.
Is it strange the silly cartoon-ish ending would have terrified me more as a child than a monster befitting the previous realistic artworks style?
I need to go check all my cabinets now for tiny tea cup drinking intruders.
Is it strange the silly cartoon-ish ending would have terrified me more as a child than a monster befitting the previous realistic artworks style?
I need to go check all my cabinets now for tiny tea cup drinking intruders.
November 23, 2015
I love this book! This book was my first favorite book as a child. I had issues with my eyesight that went misdiagnosed until the third grade. I was a third grader that could not read. I could not track the print on the page. I had to go to vision therapy to strengthen my eye muscles to track print. The reason I loved this book because of the wonderful pictures. My parents would read me this story. Then I would "read" the story based on the pictures. This was the first book that I could "read". I memorized the book to say I could read.
I read this story every year to my students. I tell them this was the book that made me love reading. In first grade, we are all struggling to read because we are still learning. Even my highest readers are still learning. This sparks a year long discussion of our favorite books. They read books and say "O, this is my new favorite book".
I also use this book to teach my students to look at the pictures to further their understanding of reading the text. Standard RL.1.3 states "Describe characters, setting, and major events in a story using key details". I use this book as a mini lesson to show my class that some of the information listed might come from the picture. This is also a great book to teach students to ask and answer questions about key details in a text: RL.1.1. When reading this book, the reader is not sure what is behind the dark, dark door or down the dark, dark hall until the end of the book. The whole time we are reading as a class, we are making predictions about what is in the dark, dark house. This is a great picture book for younger students.
I read this story every year to my students. I tell them this was the book that made me love reading. In first grade, we are all struggling to read because we are still learning. Even my highest readers are still learning. This sparks a year long discussion of our favorite books. They read books and say "O, this is my new favorite book".
I also use this book to teach my students to look at the pictures to further their understanding of reading the text. Standard RL.1.3 states "Describe characters, setting, and major events in a story using key details". I use this book as a mini lesson to show my class that some of the information listed might come from the picture. This is also a great book to teach students to ask and answer questions about key details in a text: RL.1.1. When reading this book, the reader is not sure what is behind the dark, dark door or down the dark, dark hall until the end of the book. The whole time we are reading as a class, we are making predictions about what is in the dark, dark house. This is a great picture book for younger students.
June 5, 2010
Well, I thought the dark cat was cute, until the very end at least. And, I liked this throughout, until maybe the end. The end was a surprise, and it was welcomed as it added a bit of zing to the story. But, it made the cat seem less adorable to me, and when I got to the end, I found myself thinking well what was the point of that, even though I saw the point. For very young children the repetition and the telling of the tale with very few words really works, and older children can enjoy this story as well. The illustrations are wonderful, and just a little unusual for a picture book, especially one that might be enjoyed by the very young.
I ended up really liking this book. The illustrations are beautiful and interesting. It’s a very simple story told in a very simple way that manages to have a surprise ending.
I ended up really liking this book. The illustrations are beautiful and interesting. It’s a very simple story told in a very simple way that manages to have a surprise ending.
May 12, 2017
Gorgeous pictures and effectively suspenseful text. Ambiguous ending - I'd ask the children what they think happened next. I believe this is popular in the schools; I seem to recall the title from when I was in teacher-training at the university. Excellent for those of us who can't handle a steady diet of pretty, charming, and sweet.
January 22, 2013
This is a tale which begins out on a 'dark dark moor' and follows a sequence moving from the moor, to a wood, to a house, to a door, to the inside of the house etc. The story leads us through the house to a box within which lies a surprise for the reader. The surprise is not all that exciting and doesn't really relate to the rest of the story. The story ends once the box is opened and we see what is inside.
The words 'dark dark' are repeated throughout the story as all of the items are described like this. Some children may enjoy this repetition. Whats interesting or unusual about this story is that there are no people mentioned in it.This adds to the eeriness of it. The book's illustrations are well drawn but again quite eerie using dark muted tones. I think these may not appeal to younger children who may find them a bit drab and unappealing.
There are so many great kids books available that overall I didn't really like this book. I felt the story was weak and not enough happened in it. It might be a nice story to read to a Year 1 class around Halloween time because of its dark eerie theme. There is also scope for some class discussion on guessing what is inside the box, but apart from that I think the book is a bit limited in its uses. There is not much to discuss or many questions to ask from it. Suitable for children in Year 1 and younger.
The words 'dark dark' are repeated throughout the story as all of the items are described like this. Some children may enjoy this repetition. Whats interesting or unusual about this story is that there are no people mentioned in it.This adds to the eeriness of it. The book's illustrations are well drawn but again quite eerie using dark muted tones. I think these may not appeal to younger children who may find them a bit drab and unappealing.
There are so many great kids books available that overall I didn't really like this book. I felt the story was weak and not enough happened in it. It might be a nice story to read to a Year 1 class around Halloween time because of its dark eerie theme. There is also scope for some class discussion on guessing what is inside the box, but apart from that I think the book is a bit limited in its uses. There is not much to discuss or many questions to ask from it. Suitable for children in Year 1 and younger.
November 21, 2017
seductive tale with a warm hearted twist. I was surprised and delighted when my co-reader told me the cat was probably the mouse's pet.
October 14, 2018
The suspense slowly builds, in this dark, dark tale, as the simple, repetitive text, and intensely involving acrylic illustrations work together to draw the reader in. "Once upon a time there was a dark, dark moor," the tale begins, and each two-page spread that follows narrows the focus - there is a dark, dark wood on the dark, dark moor; then a dark, dark house in the dark, dark wood; and so on - until finally, we discover what is waiting for us, at the end of all this dark darkness...
Ruth Brown is a well-known British picture-book creator - her recent Gracie, The Lighthouse Cat , published earlier this year, is the only other one of her titles I have read, thus far - and A Dark, Dark Tale, originally released in 1981, looks to be one of her most popular. I can certainly understand why! I really liked the way the text and images worked together, in this one, and the way that Brown sets up her readers' expectations, only to pull the rug out from under them! I don't know if every child will really like the ending, but they will be surprised by it. All in all, this is a title I would recommend giving a try, particularly at Halloween time!
Ruth Brown is a well-known British picture-book creator - her recent Gracie, The Lighthouse Cat , published earlier this year, is the only other one of her titles I have read, thus far - and A Dark, Dark Tale, originally released in 1981, looks to be one of her most popular. I can certainly understand why! I really liked the way the text and images worked together, in this one, and the way that Brown sets up her readers' expectations, only to pull the rug out from under them! I don't know if every child will really like the ending, but they will be surprised by it. All in all, this is a title I would recommend giving a try, particularly at Halloween time!
April 14, 2022
Great art!
July 5, 2019
With a not so Dark Ending
5 July 2019 – Nhill
You notice how some people seem to get incredibly insulted when you don’t like a book that they absolutely adore, and then proceed to attack you, and your review, on those grounds. Actually, you notice how a lot of these people don’t have profile pictures, and have accounts that are either incredibly recent, or if they aren’t they aren’t used all that much? Well, as I was reading this book, that keep on going on about dark, dark places, and when we reached the final couple of pages, I was expecting to find the true identity of those trolls that seem to forever haunt us, but unfortunately that was not to be.
Well, this book is a particularly simple book, and a part of me feels that it may be aimed at really young children, and is probably one of those books that is meant to be read aloud, and quite possibly in a mysterious and creepy voice as well. Yeah, this book does happen to have atmosphere, and in some way I do get the feeling that it is supposed to be creepy, especially with the surprise at the end.
No, despite the title of the book, the big reveal isn’t some ghoul munching on a freshly murdered corpse – this is a children’s book – but it is designed to build up the tension as we explore the woods, and then the abandoned house, until we get to those last couple of pages. In fact, I also noticed that we seem to have this cat that is following us as well, though he (or she) is only even shown, never mentioned in the words.
I wouldn’t consider it to be a particularly indepth book either, something that I feel is probably more entertaining than anything else. Yeah, it is okay, and probably good for some really young children, particularly as a bed time book (and despite the title it isn’t really all that scary), but other than that, well, it isn’t particularly one that will remain stuck in my mind.
5 July 2019 – Nhill
You notice how some people seem to get incredibly insulted when you don’t like a book that they absolutely adore, and then proceed to attack you, and your review, on those grounds. Actually, you notice how a lot of these people don’t have profile pictures, and have accounts that are either incredibly recent, or if they aren’t they aren’t used all that much? Well, as I was reading this book, that keep on going on about dark, dark places, and when we reached the final couple of pages, I was expecting to find the true identity of those trolls that seem to forever haunt us, but unfortunately that was not to be.
Well, this book is a particularly simple book, and a part of me feels that it may be aimed at really young children, and is probably one of those books that is meant to be read aloud, and quite possibly in a mysterious and creepy voice as well. Yeah, this book does happen to have atmosphere, and in some way I do get the feeling that it is supposed to be creepy, especially with the surprise at the end.
No, despite the title of the book, the big reveal isn’t some ghoul munching on a freshly murdered corpse – this is a children’s book – but it is designed to build up the tension as we explore the woods, and then the abandoned house, until we get to those last couple of pages. In fact, I also noticed that we seem to have this cat that is following us as well, though he (or she) is only even shown, never mentioned in the words.
I wouldn’t consider it to be a particularly indepth book either, something that I feel is probably more entertaining than anything else. Yeah, it is okay, and probably good for some really young children, particularly as a bed time book (and despite the title it isn’t really all that scary), but other than that, well, it isn’t particularly one that will remain stuck in my mind.
October 11, 2012
Do you think that if monsters really exist that there might be a monster out there licking his lips and thinking about YOU? And what if that monster is coming to find you? Riding his bicycle through a dark forest on his way? What if he is thinking about what you might taste like with ketchup as he wades through the gloopy swamp? What if he thinks about you on toast while tiptoeing through thorns? He’s getting closer and closer… you aren’t scared are you? Are you?
Filled with great noises and ways to get little hearts pitter-patting, this book is an impressive read aloud. Vere paces the book just like a traditional campfire tale, it’s the build up that makes the entire thing work along with the fact that this monster is headed for you!
Vere’s silly artwork provides a lightening effect that will get kids giggling despite the tension of the story. There are also softening hints throughout like the teddy bear, the bicycle with a bell, and even the pink toenails that make this monster more friendly than frightening.
Pair this one with A Dark, Dark Tale by Ruth Brown for some sinister stories that end well. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Filled with great noises and ways to get little hearts pitter-patting, this book is an impressive read aloud. Vere paces the book just like a traditional campfire tale, it’s the build up that makes the entire thing work along with the fact that this monster is headed for you!
Vere’s silly artwork provides a lightening effect that will get kids giggling despite the tension of the story. There are also softening hints throughout like the teddy bear, the bicycle with a bell, and even the pink toenails that make this monster more friendly than frightening.
Pair this one with A Dark, Dark Tale by Ruth Brown for some sinister stories that end well. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
April 1, 2012
In the wood there was a dark, dark house, at the front of the house there was a dark, dark door. This book will encourage children to join in if being used as a read aloud story book. With its use of repetition on every page, children can become the story tellers. Follow the pages all the way to the end to discover what is hiding in the dark, dark box. Encourage the children to use their imaginations as you make your way through this story, there are lots of opportunities for the children to engage with this story. And what was hiding in that dark, dark box? It is only a little mouse! This book has some truly lovely illustrations that cover all of the pages, it can be used as a great tool for getting children to use their imaginations and to encourage discussion. Nursery children through to key stage one will enjoy this exciting, unpredictable story. And for those of you that are worried that it could be too scary, I tested it out on my 4 year old who was amazed and engaged throughout the whole story.
September 14, 2015
Keren banget! :D Baru tahu kalau di library ada buku ini. Simpen ah buat storytelling :)
Kisahnya di awali begini:
Once upon a time there was a dark, dark moor...
Lalu dilanjutkan di dalam moor (atau tegalan) itu ada hutan, di dalam hutan ada rumah, dan seterusnya. Yang membuat menarik adalah, buku ini ilustrasinya kelam, gelap seperti cerita hantu. Dan kalimat yang digunakan juga membuat imajinasi melayang ke arah hantu terutama saat menggambarkan isi rumah.
Saya membayangkan saat bercerita pada anak-anak kelas 1 dan 2, menggunakan suara rendah, dan menyeramkan, pasti mereka akan berpikir kalau itu adalah cerita hantu. Endingnya sangat pas, berhenti di saat pembaca sudah mulai merasakan ketegangan maksimal. Dan saya juga sempat ketakutan sendiri. Padahal cerita anak gitu loh, kayaknya nggak mungkin banget ada hantu yang menyeramkan nongol. But who knows, kan? :D
Anyway, I really like it, and enjoy it very much! Even though it's an old book :D
Kisahnya di awali begini:
Once upon a time there was a dark, dark moor...
Lalu dilanjutkan di dalam moor (atau tegalan) itu ada hutan, di dalam hutan ada rumah, dan seterusnya. Yang membuat menarik adalah, buku ini ilustrasinya kelam, gelap seperti cerita hantu. Dan kalimat yang digunakan juga membuat imajinasi melayang ke arah hantu terutama saat menggambarkan isi rumah.
Saya membayangkan saat bercerita pada anak-anak kelas 1 dan 2, menggunakan suara rendah, dan menyeramkan, pasti mereka akan berpikir kalau itu adalah cerita hantu. Endingnya sangat pas, berhenti di saat pembaca sudah mulai merasakan ketegangan maksimal. Dan saya juga sempat ketakutan sendiri. Padahal cerita anak gitu loh, kayaknya nggak mungkin banget ada hantu yang menyeramkan nongol. But who knows, kan? :D
Anyway, I really like it, and enjoy it very much! Even though it's an old book :D
October 6, 2014
Preschool and primary students will love this atmospheric picture book. It's great for a experiencing print: have your child spot the black cat in every page and guess where he's going next. Talk about how the setting (night in an old, abandoned house) and inky, gothic pictures contribute to the scary mood.(Well, don't use those exact words...) Repeat the "dark, dark" part. This is an ever-so-slightly scary tale that most 4 and 5 year olds will enjoy without fear. Recommended for any home or school library.
October 29, 2016
I loved, loved, loved this book as a child - spooky, but with a humorous ending.
October 7, 2018
LMAO what a funny, slightly dark but totally expected read.
January 10, 2023
nuostabi pasaka - be galo paprasta, baugi, graži, šiek tiek komiška, o posūkis pabaigoje tiesiog genialus. dar nustebau, kaip užhipnotizavo, net ėmė šiek tiek suktis galva su visu kambariu ir pasijutau lyg dar vienoje knygos iliustracijoje (aišku, dėl to, kad lauke jau buvo sutemę). tokia mažytė pasaka, kaip smagu, kad ją galima suprasti įvairiai, kad yra gelmė.
December 26, 2023
Very minimal words. Read for the dark and atmospheric illustrations.
September 29, 2018
Very fun picture book for little halloweenies with just enough autumnal chill. From one page to the next dark, dark things lead to dark dark, discoveries which lead to an ending with a squeak and a squeal! Follow the dark, dark cat if you dare!
Excellent detailed illustrations in dark, dark colors add just enough creep factor for very young readers/listeners to enjoy without becoming spooked. The text is so simple that even non-readers will soon have the story memorized and will scare everyone with how often they pull this excellent book off the shelf!
Excellent detailed illustrations in dark, dark colors add just enough creep factor for very young readers/listeners to enjoy without becoming spooked. The text is so simple that even non-readers will soon have the story memorized and will scare everyone with how often they pull this excellent book off the shelf!
February 14, 2021
ATMOSPHERE
September 12, 2012
This fun and spooky tale would make a great Halloween time (or anytime!) read-aloud for young classrooms everywhere. The dark, muted colors used in the cover illustration are the perfect way to set the musty, eerie tone that is carried very well throughout the book. From the very first page the reader is pulled in to this suspenseful story, slowly following the narrator on to each page. This story uses repetition from beginning to end with the words “dark, dark,” which are used on every page to describe each new setting and piece of the journey. This repetition is a nice touch because it gives the book a sort of rhythm which, when read aloud, helps build suspense and emphasize the spookiness of the story. From a dark and mysterious moor, through the creepy woods, on to the porch of an old house, through a creaky door and more, readers are taken on an exciting journey that will leave them anxiously and nervously flipping the pages. This would be a fantastic book to present to young children around Halloween time, perhaps adding a scary voice for effect. This seems to be the kind of book that a reader would rather have read to them than to read themselves, because there is so much that could be done theatrically to present this story to a listener. The house in the story looks like it could be haunted, complete with cobwebs, black cats and all, so there are a lot of activities that could go along with this theme around that time of year. The detailed illustrations throughout the book only contribute to the telling of the story and the emphasis of darkness and spookiness, and they are beautiful in and of themselves. The large amount of suspense leading up to the ending may scare young children, but finding a mouse in his cute little box house on the last page will add just the right touch of light and humor. This book falls under the category of “predictable book,” but it proves to have quite the unpredictable ending. I would recommend A Dark, Dark Tale to young readers as a first dose of suspense and mystery, and to teachers as a great presentation tool to use in a classroom for Halloween specifically.
October 22, 2016
This is an enduring childhood classic and a great choice for children with autism. The book is like a gothic Russian nesting doll, opening on a dark moor and slowly zooming in to a creepy house, exploring it almost cautiously, until arriving at a mysterious wooden box in a dark and dusty cupboard.
On every page, a black cat can be found by the careful reader, and that is a great way to involve a child in the book, and as I've mentioned in previous posts, illustrations that promote scanning are great for children who need visual input. For my son Luke, I ask, "Where's the cat?" and have him point and show me (although the cat is sometimes really hard to find and he may need a hint). On certain pages I may model language to pair with this, like "in the hall" and get him to echo me. For my son Harry, who is ready for a bit more, I might ask "Where is the cat going next?" He's memorized the book and following the cat's path is a good opportunity to practice sequencing.
For both children, I hover on all the fabulous prepositions as the book follows the cat "behind" the door and "up" the stairs and "in" the box. The twist at the end (there's an adorable mouse in the box) always makes my boys erupt into fits of giggles. With all the repetition of words and structure, gorgeous atmospheric illustrations, and just the right amount of new vocabulary, "A Dark, Dark Tale" is a Halloween home run.
****
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer blog post about this book and four other books perfect for the Halloween season: http://www.lineupthebooks.com/once-up...
On every page, a black cat can be found by the careful reader, and that is a great way to involve a child in the book, and as I've mentioned in previous posts, illustrations that promote scanning are great for children who need visual input. For my son Luke, I ask, "Where's the cat?" and have him point and show me (although the cat is sometimes really hard to find and he may need a hint). On certain pages I may model language to pair with this, like "in the hall" and get him to echo me. For my son Harry, who is ready for a bit more, I might ask "Where is the cat going next?" He's memorized the book and following the cat's path is a good opportunity to practice sequencing.
For both children, I hover on all the fabulous prepositions as the book follows the cat "behind" the door and "up" the stairs and "in" the box. The twist at the end (there's an adorable mouse in the box) always makes my boys erupt into fits of giggles. With all the repetition of words and structure, gorgeous atmospheric illustrations, and just the right amount of new vocabulary, "A Dark, Dark Tale" is a Halloween home run.
****
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer blog post about this book and four other books perfect for the Halloween season: http://www.lineupthebooks.com/once-up...
January 30, 2013
A Dark Dark Tale written and illustrated by Ruth Brown was a fun, almost suspenseful read. Every page described something as "dark,dark." While I was reading this, I thought that some children might be a little scared of the story because it was dark, the illustration's were dark, and everything was being described as dark. I remember when I was a child I was very scared of the dark. I think this is a good story to show that your should not be scared of the dark. The illustrations were very detailed and descriptive. The drawing of the mansion made it look like a castle, and through the drawings you could tell that this mansion was abandoned. The story takes us through the old mansion with many dark objects all through out the mansion. However, in the darkest corner of the darkest cupboard, in a, "dark, dark box." was..."A MOUSE!" This mouse was not dark at all, but cuddled up in bed with a light. I think this goes to show that no matter how dark a place is, there will always be some place with a little light. I also liked how through out the story there was a black cat. I thought this was almost a play on words because of "A Dark Dark Tale" and a black cat does have a dark, dark tail. I think Ruth Brown does a good job of writing a suspenseful book for children, without making it too scary.
February 4, 2014
Eeeeryyyy!!!! I honestly felt like I was actually walking through a haunted house just by looking at these illustrations! As you flip from page to page, the reader gets focused in on a more specific piece of information about this abandoned residence located in the middle of the woods. I feel like this book would bring a sense of curiosity to young readers because they would want to find out for themselves what lies in that house. The use of dark colors and double page illustrations makes the spookiness of the story pop out at the reader. One can see that a great amount of detail went into drawing the abandoned house, the dark passage way, as well as the curtain in which the cat hid behind. The curtain as well as the cupboard that has all of the toys, holds the most color compared to any of the other illustrations in the picture book. The faces that are drawn on the curtain really caught my attention, because it's not everyday that you see a lot of faces on a curtain. Personally, I think children would love the continuous repetition of the words "dark, dark" that appear on each page. I think this book would be great to read aloud in front of young readers, especially around Halloween time! Furthermore, I feel like children would get a kick out of the hidden mouse at the end of the book!
September 11, 2013
This book is very dark like the title says. It has a scariness that children would love in a book. This is definitely a good Halloween read. Ruth Brown does a good job of making the book not too scary for children, but just enough. The words "dark, dark" is repeated in every page and it adds a creepy effect to the book. You follow a black cat from the woods and inside the house. Everything in the house is dark and creepy. Page after page it gets even more suspenseful except the ending. The illustrations were perfect for this book. The drawings were really dark and scary. The cat was really cute, but since it's black it gives the book a little something extra. This book is perfect for younger children. In the end, the cat finds a box with a mouse sleeping inside on a bed. I didn't really like this ending very much. It didn't really add anything to the book. It was really random and nothing happened at the end. The book builds up its climax really well and then comes up with nothing, but a mouse in a box. Also I don't tend to like predictable books, but this was a really good one.
September 18, 2013
This book is a picture book with the theme of Halloween making it unique and good for the children who like spookier story lines. This book is not scary, however, so it is still appropriate for young age groups. This book is also a pattern book repeating the phrase"...a dark, dark,,," keeping the reader involved and wanting to know what happens on the next page. The repetition makes for good page turners. The end of the story comes as a surprise to the reader and also adds to the uniqueness of the book.
The illustrations of the book were done in dark or muted colors to go along with the spooky theme. They also were a good tool in helping the reader imagine what was going on in the story. They were well done and helped add to the mystery which continued on each page. I really enjoyed the story and the surprise ending. This book would be good for probably first graders as an independent reading book. It could also make a good read aloud for smaller groups due to the pictures being darker and more detailed.
The illustrations of the book were done in dark or muted colors to go along with the spooky theme. They also were a good tool in helping the reader imagine what was going on in the story. They were well done and helped add to the mystery which continued on each page. I really enjoyed the story and the surprise ending. This book would be good for probably first graders as an independent reading book. It could also make a good read aloud for smaller groups due to the pictures being darker and more detailed.
September 17, 2013
The picture book, "A Dark, Dark Tale," by Ruth Brown takes children through this dark and scary house into a room by following this black cat. The repetition on each page is, "a dark dark..." The black cat starts in the woods, enters a house, which eventually leads to a room where a tiny mouse is sleeping in a box. This shows children that they should not be afraid of the dark! It may seem scary, but in all actuality it is not. I think this picture book would be great for children ages 3-5. Also, Halloween would be a perfect time to read this book to the children. Since taking Lis 510, I have learned that children love scary books. The books plot also has suspense in it, due to the fact that we do not know where the cat is leading us after each page we read. The illustrations are very detailed, but does not take away from the text on each page. I give this picture book 4 stars; although it is a patterned book, the readers can not predict who will be in the box!
May 5, 2014
The dark dark tale is a book based on a progression through the dark wood, into the dark house, and eventually to the surprise discovery of a mouse inside a toy box. We did the book for two weeks for our literacy lesson in year one. I do not recommend this book very highly as the children didn't really like the concept of the dark dark tale. I also found it confusing for the children as they were encouraged to think about the main character of the dark dark tale. There isn't really a main character but at the front of the book there is a cat. The highlight about the book is being able to build the suspense of the mouse at the end. In our literacy lessons we left the last page till the end of the week. We got the children to use their imaginations to think of what could be in the box. They were very excited in the end to find out what was in the box. When we did finally read the whole story to them there was a lot of suspense.
December 7, 2017
This is a great predictable picture book. I would recommend this to preschool-2nd grade. It would be a really fun book to read around Halloween time as well. I really liked the way the text and images worked together, in this one, and the way that Brown sets up her readers' expectations, only to pull the rug out from under them! I don't know if every child will really like the ending, but they will be surprised by it. The tale begins, and each two-page spread that follows narrows the focus - there is a dark, dark wood on the dark, dark moor; then a dark, dark house in the dark, dark wood; and so on - until finally, we discover what is waiting for us, at the end of all this dark darkness... All in all, this is a title I would recommend giving a try! I would definitely read this aloud to a younger class and see how easily and fast they will catch onto the flow of the book. The illustrations are very nice and detailed yet pretty dark but they add a lot of suspense to this book.
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