Who’s Afraid of the Light?

Title: Who’s Afraid of the Light?

Author: Anna McGregor

Publisher: Scribble

Fergus lives down in the deepest, darkest depths of the sea and is scared of just one thing … the light!

Come on a trip to the deepest, darkest depths of the ocean.

There are many fascinating creatures that call it home.

There’s nothing to be afraid of …

 … is there?

From the award-winning creator of Anemone is Not the Enemy and A Pair of Pears and an Orange comes this spooky, funny adventure with a surprise twist that you literally won’t see coming.

Anna 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?

Photography by Sarah Walker

Judges’ report

The inventive brilliance of this book is such that the very form tells the story. Anna McGregor has created a book where the interactive nature of the composition, along with the text and pictures, culminates in a memorable reading experience. Playful and inventive, this book bridges genres of fiction and non-fiction and manages to elevate the form of the picture book into a cinematic work. Stunning design and fabulous comic timing makes this a standout picture book that will make readers laugh out loud. Using a black background and neon colours (not to mention a glow in the dark cover!), McGregor creates movement and humour with minimal lines and dialogue. Our narrator invites the reader to interact with the text, speak with the creature and guess their appearance, all while exploring the beasts of the deep sea.

Who’s Afraid of the Light is an example of great children’s literature that manages to tell a story, inform, engage, entertain and inspire wonder, while showing a huge respect for the audience.