Who's Afraid of the Light?

by Anna McGregor

Overview

WINNER OF THE 2024-5 ALABAMA SCHOOL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION'S YELLOWHAMMER BOOK AWARD FOR PICTURE BOOK
WINNER OF THE 2024-5 VERMONT YOUTH BOOK AWARD'S RED CLOVER AWARD
WINNER OF THE 2024 ABDA BEST DESIGNED CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK AND BOOK OF THE YEAR
A 2024 White Raven selection
A dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books selection for 2024
Shortlisted for the 2024 World Illustration Awards

Fergus lives down in the deepest, darkest sea and is scared of just one thing … the light! Fresh and funny narrative non-fiction from the award-winning Anna McGregor.

From award-winning creator Anna McGregor (author of Anemone is Not the Enemy) comes this hilarious tale of the deepest of sea creatures. Seamlessly combining humor, narrative, and non-fiction, McGregor introduces young readers to the wonders of the ocean’s ‘midnight zone’, where no sunlight at all is able to penetrate. We meet Fergus as he hides from a parade of sea-creatures that use bioluminescence to find their way in the dark. At least, we think he is hiding … or is it something else entirely?

This book is ideal for:

• Educators and librarians looking for humorous stories to use as a launching pad for further non-fiction investigation into the ocean environment;
• Parents and carers looking to combine narrative and non-fiction to entertain and educate their children simultaneously;
• Kids who just want funny books!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781957363431
Publisher:	Scribe Publications Pty Ltd
Publication date:	08/01/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	0.38(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	AD510L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Anna McGregor, an author, illustrator, and designer based in Melbourne. She is dedicated to delivering modern, quirky, and conceptual stories straight from her heart to young readers. By day, she works in graphic design, but when she's not at her desk, Anna enjoys travel, art, and picnics with friends.

Editorial Reviews

An unnamed narrator has a cheery conversation in the darkest depths of the sea in this humoros tale that sheds some light on the midnight zone. The brightly colored text and a parade of curious creatures stand out against dark backdrops as readers are introduced to the mysterious Fergus, a deep-sea creature who’s afraid of the light. The narrator provides primers on the creatures encountered, while a “Did you know?” section at the end expands on the science of the deep sea.”
—Foreword Reviews

“Deep down in the darkest depths of the sea, don’t blink or you might miss something to see. Who could this Fergus creature be? There’s nothing to fear in the dark but what creatures create the light? The book glows from cover to cover and is brilliantly deLIGHTful.”
—Jesica Sweedler DeHart, Neill Public Library

“This was such a fantastic picture book! I love that we got to explore some of the deep-sea creatures we typically don't hear/see about. I also loved the ‘guess-who’ style of the writing as we went along to figure out why our new friend Fergus was! The kiddos will love the twist ending. Overall a wonderful book to do as a read aloud!!
—Rachael Frymann, Edgewood Library

“Fergus lives deep in the darkest parts of the sea, where the light from the sun doesn’t reach. Which is a good thing because Fergus is scared of the light, especially bioluminescent light from other deep sea creatures. But why is Fergus so scared? And more importantly, who—or what—is Fergus? With vivid illustrations and a glow-in-the-dark cover, this picture book is sure to delight and surprise future underwater explorers and fans of The Monster at the End of This Book.”
—Joe Michon-Huneau, Northshire Books

“I loved Anemone is Not the Enemy but I think I love this even more! The clever text and colorful illustrations lead to a hilarious pay off at the end.”
—Brooke Wiliams, Bookends and Beginnings

“It is a great read, and ideal for sharing, with plenty of opportunities for inference, prediction, and further research into the vast unexplored areas of the deep sea. Highly recommend.”
—Brenda Marshall, The School Librarian

“Seamlessly combining humor, narrative, and nonfiction, storyteller and artist Anna McGregor introduces her young readers to the wonders of the ocean's ‘midnight zone’, where no sunlight at all is able to penetrate … Charming, original, informative and fun, Who's Afraid of the Light? is especially and unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library Marine Life picture book collections for children ages 3-7.”
—Midwest Book Review

“Who’s Afraid of the Light is a lively, inventive and informative book that will be loved by readers aged three and up. It begs to be read aloud with a friend or family member.”
—Jacqui Davies, Books+Publishing

“McGregor seamless blend of storytelling, facts, and dazzling illustrations is the perfect way to introduce little children to the wonders of the vast and mysterious ‘midnight zone’ where no sunlight is able to penetrate.”
—Pam Norfolk, Lancashire Post

“Clever, funny, super-engaging, packed with easy-to-understand and unusual oceanic facts and so, so stylish—we absolutely love this.”
—Bellis Does Books

“Who’s Afraid of the Light? is first class narrative non-fiction which I highly recommend for all children of 5+.”
—Veronica Price, View from Vs Bookshelf

‘The humor, the illustrations, the story-like presentation of facts: all make this a hugely attractive book for the primary school library, classroom book corner, or bedroom bookcase. Reading for pleasure just got more pleasurable still.’
—Jane McGregor, ReadingZones

“With a laugh a minute, vibrant illustrations, and an opportunity to learn about deep sea creatures this has become one of those books we’ve read over and over again!”
—@mini.midnight.reads

From the Publisher