Reviews

Clark the Shark: Afraid of the Dark by Bruce Hale, Guy Francis

aylea's review against another edition

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3.0

This review originally published at The Children's Book and Media Review

Clark the Shark is trying to get ready for his first sleepover, but he’s worried because it will be his first time sleeping outside without his glow-fish night-light. He and his friends play games until it’s time to go outside. Clark’s friends tell scary stories and Clark’s friends all start to feel a little scared. Clark realizes that all of them are a little bit afraid of the dark. Soon they all find a way to help themselves not be afraid of the dark anymore.

While the idea of telling scary stories and being too afraid to sleep has certainly been done before, the adaption to sea creatures and the return of Clark the Shark puts the idea into a new setting. As Clark has done before, he uses a rhyme to help him not be afraid of the dark that child readers of this book may be able to adopt to help them also get over their fears. While not entirely original, readers who are afraid of the dark might find comfort that a shark could have the same kinds of worries.

artbymonimack's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

jmshirtz's review against another edition

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4.0

Clark doesn't want his friends to know that he's afraid of the dark at his first sleepover. But...what if he's not alone? I loved that the story incorporated a tool kids can use to help conquer their own fears!
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