Grab ‘Snatchabook’ off the shelf

The other night at bedtime, there was big trouble.

Your child went to grab his favorite storybook — and it was gone! You both looked under the bed. Where could it be? You’re not sure, but if you read “The Snatchabook” by Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty, I think you’ll know.

It’s late at night and little Eliza Brown has chosen a book to read before bedtime. That happened every night in every house all over Burrow Down because, well, who doesn’t love a good story before they go to sleep?

So Eliza and her neighbors were all in their quiet houses, all in their quiet beds, getting ready for a quiet night. But what they didn’t know was that something strange was just outside their windows.

Eliza noticed it first. A breeze moved the curtains in her bedroom just a bit, and when she grabbed for her storybook, it was gone!

The book that Mommy Owl was reading — POOF!

The story that Papa Squirrel was reading — ZIP!

Just like that. Everyone was convinced that “book thieves” were hiding in their houses. They were sure it was bad.

They were missing their books.

But Eliza wasn’t going to take this lying down — besides, she loved a good mystery — so she set a trap. She wanted that stealing to end and she wanted it to happen “RIGHT NOW!”

Eliza then heard a tiny voice that seemed sad. It seemed to be apologizing, like it needed to make things better, but there was just one problem. Could Eliza and the residents of Burrow Down fix what was very wrong?

With a lighthearted and oh-so-clever rhyme, and illustrations that are absolutely beyond charming, “The Snatchabook” is very likely going to be your child’s new bedtime BFF. In this story of someone who loves books so much that he can’t help but take them, the authors build excitement by adding a very gentle scare — but don’t worry. When your kids see the reason for the fright, they’ll be too delighted to do anything but laugh, thanks to Tom Docherty’s artwork.

I think early grade-schoolers will love it, and so will you. If a brand-new bedtime book is just what your family needs, then “The Snatchabook” is a steal.

“The Snatchabook” by Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty [32 pages, 2013, $16.99].

Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading since she was 3 years old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill with two dogs and 12,000 books.