The Shadow by Donna Diamond

There is a new wordless sophisticated picture book in the National Library collection - The Shadow by Donna Diamond, a US author /illustrator.

I haven't seen it yet but read Barbara Murison's review in the latest Around the Bookshops (November 2010 page 10) which ends "It is the most frightening picture book aimed at young readers I have seen. An adult needs to be close by or at least aware the book is being looked at."
Those are strong words from the very knowledgeable Barbara, and I checked out a couple of other reviews and found similar reservations...

School Library Journal says "...In the final spread, the little girl is asleep in bed, and seemingly all is well. That is, until readers turn to the last page, where the menacing shadow is seen, eyes aglow as in a Halloween mask, hiding under the bed. The menace remains present, and readers are left fearing for the girl's safety. The dark intensity of the art and the unresolved ending make this a book for children old enough to understand that this story is not to be taken literally. This is a great example of mood in a picture book, but it is not for storytime..."

and here is a review from The Book Aunt http://bookaunt.blogspot.com/2010/08/review-of-shadow-by-donna-diamond.html who makes a link with the trickle-down effect from Twilight et al... "I've been watching with interest the rise of the paranormal in YA and its trickle down into middle grade fiction and picture books..." I enjoy this blogger's reviews, and she has a great list of children's and YA blogs in her "Blogville" list.

I think this book sounds sinister, and could be unwittingly picked up by younger children who will follow the pictures to their unresolved and disquieting ending...