A Dark, Dark Tale

My preschooler was drawn to the attractive cover on this book [we got it at a library book sale] - a black cat with an imposing castle/house in the background set against a full moon. The cover looks like one of those antique journals, and I was sold. The story itself is simple, and the text is repetitive, the words "dark, dark" found on almost every page, except the last. Initially, I was quite concerned that it would be too scary for my preschooler, but it's not. In fact, apart from the dark setting, and yes, some creepy illustrations, e.g. the forbidding house, the dark stairs, etc, the anticipation of something horrible or gruesome at the end makes for a fun reading experience. My little one squealed at the end, and wanted to read it over and over! A delightfully creepy and fun picture book, recommended for ages 2-6.

This is a wonderful story that my children (now adults) still enjoy. We own the original and are looking for copies to share with family and friends

This "Dark Dark Tale" by Ruth Brown is simple, short and sports a gothic flair. The illustrations (also by Brown) are nothing short of brilliant. Brown the artist captures the fog, shadows and light of her own dark dark little world. Perfect for preschoolers (my two year old loves it and always anticipates the ending), it holds their attention (there can't be more than 120 words in the entire book) with the repetative prose that children love. Perfect for lovers of children literature and childrens illustrations as well (which is what drew me to the book in the first place). We love it and read it daily.

My two year old read this book over and over again. He loved it every time that he read it. The suspence was not too scary but just spooky enough to make him enjoy this book.

I'm so excited to find this book still available; it was one of my son's favorites when he was small. A wonderful illustrated version of the old spooky story, the book is beautifully illustrated and a pleasure to read over and over and over again. The suspense builds as the reader is led from the "dark, dark wood" to a "dark, dark castle" and so on until the great surprise ending -- but I'll let you discover it yourself. Treat yourself to this treasure!