Synopsis: In this beautiful blending of fairy tales Mama’s slumber is disturbed one night by her little boy. But can bad dreams, like fairy tales, have happy endings? They can certainly have lots of twist and turns.

Review:  Unusual takes on familiar tales can rarely fail when crafted by author/illustrators such as Ruth Brown.

Brown’s endearing knack of entering a child’s world is enhanced by her evocative writing and richly illustrated artwork. In Night-time Tale, Mama is disturbed by her frightened little boy who, in turn, has been disturbed by a bad dream. Over a series of engaging spreads readers discover the source of the narrator’s discontent as we enter scenes from four familiar fairy tales – Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and then finally, as he persuades Mama to allow him in to her bed, we discover a familiar yet unwelcome visitor in Baby Bear’s bed – the bed Mama’s unsuspecting youngster has just left.

The text, uncomplicated, minimal and direct, simply serves to reinforce the substance of the images. No reader, whatever age, could fail to be enticed by the sugary house made of candy and gingerbread, or concerned by the impending descent of the beanstalk giant for such is Brown’s skill the reader is subconsciously drawn in to the imagery of the imaginative world.

 A book for sharing children would need to be reassured that dreams are simply dreams but some may deliberately leave their beds in the hope of discovering a much loved interloper - Goldilocks!

2006-10-15