It Was a Dark and Stormy Night is a charming and inventive picture book from the celebrated husband-and-wife duo, Allan and Janet Ahlberg. The story takes its title from the famous, clichéd opening line of bad literature and transforms it into a delightful adventure. The book follows a young hero named Pietro, who is traveling on a very dark and stormy night. He seeks shelter in a strange castle, where he encounters a host of eccentric characters, including a fearsome brigand. The genius of the narrative lies in its meta-storytelling, as the simple pictures that accompany the text are revealed to be part of an elaborate design. Pietro, the brigand, and a small, mischievous ghost all chase each other through the pages, constantly interacting with and even drawing on the illustrations themselves. It’s a witty, imaginative play on the reading experience, encouraging children to think critically about how stories are made, making it a favorite for shared reading and creative exploration.
