ANNOTATION

Scary incidents at midnight give Biff the dog and his master a frightening time but all turn out to have good explanations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

There's something strange about tonight. What's that woo sound outside my window?

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

When Jake wakes up at midnight, strange shapes loom large and frightening sounds are everywhere, but the reassuring appearance of his parents sets everything right. PW praised Carrick's ``splendid paintings . . . with corners full of horrible shadows.'' Ages 3-6. (Sept.)

Library Journal

K-Gr 3-This follow-along book and cassette compassionately captures a child's fears of storms, of the dark, and of being left alone. The plot is realistic and simplistic enough for children to understand and follow. Jake and his sacred dog, Biff, wake up one night to an eerie sound. He turns on the light in his room, but it does not come on. Jake decides to go sleep with his parents, but they are not in their bedroom. Trying to be brave for his dog's sake, he goes downstairs to check and that is when he hears the clock chiming midnight. After a series of comical events, Jake finds his mom and dad sleeping in the living room. His mom tells Biff that it is okay to be scared during the storm, that we all get scared sometimes. The book's illustrations by Donald Carrick complement Eve Bunting's story (HM, 1987) through their soft lines and darker colors which depict an image of mystery and night. Suitable for individual use, this package would be an excellent addition to school and public library read-along collections. The spooky tone of the story may lend itself well to a Halloween collection as well.-Sarah Smith, Harrison Community Library, MI Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2 Near midnight on a windy night in late autumn, a small boy awakens. Not only are the nighttime sounds frightening to him and his dog, but the lights aren't working and his parents aren't in their bedroom. He confronts creaks and howling (both his and the dog's) before he finds his parents, who are sleeping downstairs, and who comfort him. Bunting masterfully paces her story, with each fear of the child climaxing in his discovery of the basis for the sound. The images that frighten the narrator will also make young readers and listeners feel shivery, but in each case, the rational explanation will reassure them. The narrator's range of emotionsbeing scared but trying not to show it, transferring his feelings to his dog, and his overwhelming relief at finding his fatheris marvelously portrayed in the text through small details. Bunting also provides a range of sensory details that make the boy's experiences readily identifiable. The text is extended by Carrick's paintings, most of which brood with the darkness and mystery of a house in the night. Each is a full page-and-a-third; all show a remarkable vitality. Carrick's palette, and the book's tone, change completely when the boy, with his parents, is no longer afraid: warm, comforting gold tones then enrobe the family. A book that provides the perfect blend of chills and comfort. David Gale, ``School Library Journal''