The Red Dread Book Review

My youngest two are still very much into picture books, they have their favourites that they'll tend to read over and over again but then every so often a book comes along that really grabs their attention and this is precisely what Tom Morgan Jones' debut picture books, The Read Dread has managed to do.

Thump thump... Thump thump... Thump thump... The Read Dread is on the loose! Is anyone safe?

This is a book that is literally full of surprises. When you look at the front cover and ask the children what they think it could be about, they're replies are perhaps monsters, something spooky, it could be a little bit of a scary tale. The question we should all be asking is, "what is the red dread and just what does it want?".

What immediately drew me into this book was the dialogue itself, very cleverly written, it makes you stop and think on every page and as you read it becomes sort of interactive because you can play along with the words. Of course the theme of the book is based around fear because of course you never know what could be lurking on the next page.

The illustrations along with the words make this book rather humorous, it makes reading it easy, flowing at the perfect pace. Images is are bright and vivid, they add a certain energy to to the tale. It's the perfect story for reading out loud and with each piece of wording. There's a real anticipation that builds as you read, I think I was just as excited/apprehensive as my kids to find out just who or what the Read Dread might be.

He's eaten chicken too! Run for Your Lives!

Having larger letters printed means that this would be an ideal book to read in schools, it would allow all the little ones to see the words that are being read to them and perhaps try to read along at the same time. 

Now I won't spoil the ending for you but lets just say you need to expect the unexpected. Through all of the panic that increases throughout the story, there is a twist that is brilliant and will have your children chuckling with laughter. 

What Tim Morgan Jones manages to do is get kids using their imaginations because a book is never just a book, it can be whatever you want it to be and as this tale plays out each reader will have their own thoughts on the Red Dread and in the end readers will come together to be in on the joke that sneakily plays out before their eyes.