The Light Inside

June 15, 2023
Cartoonist Misdea constructs a quest replete with Halloween motifs in this nearly wordless, picture book-graphic novel hybrid. Troubled at bedtime by imagined scary beings--a skeleton, a green-skinned witch, a ghost, and even more monsters under the bed--a personified little jack-o'-lantern finds comfort with a treasured toy mouse. Next day, a whooshing wind separates the protagonist from the toy, engendering a seek-and-follow adventure. The Jack-child spies a black, fanged cat with the pilfered toy and pursues the feline in a motorboat across a river where a giant octopus makes its home. Reaching land, the child reunites a skull with its bones. The protagonist tucks the skull under their arm like a football and runs toward the skeleton with it; comically, the skeleton repays the favor in kind, kicking the Jack-child into the air for a temporary flight with a squad of ghosts. Landing in a cauldron, our hero finds a witch bawling disconsolately over a flyer for a lost cat. Realizing that the missing feline is also the thief, the Jack-child's off again to put things right. Misdea's narrative can be read as a child's dream or a hero's fulsome adventure. Featuring a muted palette of charcoal gray with orange, yellow, and blue tints, this debut's round-edged panels compress zigzagging emotions into an adroitly constructed tale using classic folkloric tropes. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Appealing, for Halloween or anytime. (Picture book/graphic fiction hybrid. 3-7)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from July 31, 2023
Creatures of the night have troubles of their own in this wordless children’s debut from cartoonist Misdea. In paneled vignettes, a little humanoid figure with a round jack-o’-lantern head depends on a beloved purple stuffed mouse to ward off the frightening dreamlike figures that seem suspended over the bed after lights-out. When a strong wind blows the mouse away, and a stylized black cat runs off with it, the child goes on an epic pursuit through a nocturnal landscape peopled by the creatures of their dream. Crisp line drawings and striking, moody gray tones lend a satisfying frisson of eeriness to the dramatic stakes. Centering a reluctant but persevering protagonist facing their nightmares, it’s a portrait of empathy, independence, and bravery that champions the literal and figurative light within. Ages 3–7.

September 1, 2023
When a mischievous black cat runs off with a little jack-o'-lantern child's purple mouse stuffie, the child must face their fears to find their beloved friend. In the end, stuffie and child are reunited, and our hero discovers a reserve of courage they didn't know they had. A lot happens in this wordless Halloween adventure that plays out in cleanly rendered panel illustrations. The jack-o'-lantern travels across a river and into a forest where they encounter a skeleton, ghosts, a witch (sad about her missing black cat), a giant octopus, and, scariest of all, the dark. The details sound frightening, but the art's soft palette and comforting round shapes signal to young readers and listeners that they needn't be. Kitty Flynn

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

August 11, 2023

PreS-Gr 1-A wordless picture book about finding a lost toy in a Halloween town. A jack-o'-lantern child slips out of bed at night and goes in search of a stuffed purple mouse. During the course of an evening, there are hills to climb, caves to enter, and boats to ride-all of which result in a bit of worry for the young child, as they are far from home and entering unknown territory. But along the way, there are friendly encounters with a witch, ghosts, a black cat, and a huge octopus. These interactions bring the child closer to finding the lost toy and provide ways for all the characters to build up their courage and friendship skills. The illustrations contain a few Halloweenish sound effect words and several examples of how helping another person or animal can be beneficial to both parties. A few humorous drawings involving a skeleton provide a break from the tension of the story. Misdea's artwork makes readers empathize with the creatures, as he shows them feeling fear, loneliness, and sadness like we do. VERDICT A cozy, quiet read for young children who love Halloween.-Tanya Boudreau

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2024
When a mischievous black cat runs off with a little jack-o'-lantern child's purple mouse stuffie, the child must face their fears to find their beloved friend. In the end, stuffie and child are reunited, and our hero discovers a reserve of courage they didn't know they had. A lot happens in this wordless Halloween adventure that plays out in cleanly rendered panel illustrations. The jack-o'-lantern travels across a river and into a forest where they encounter a skeleton, ghosts, a witch (sad about her missing black cat), a giant octopus, and, scariest of all, the dark. The details sound frightening, but the art's soft palette and comforting round shapes signal to young readers and listeners that they needn't be.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)