Raquel ten medo (‘Rachel is Afraid’)

Synopsis

Rachel is in bed and cannot sleep. She looks towards the window and sees an enormous monster. Frightened, she wakes up her sister Tina, who turns on the light and explains that it was just the shadows cast by the apple tree in the garden. She then discovers a ghost: it is the curtains being moved by the wind. She then hears a skeleton hidden in the wardrobe, but it is only the door creaking. Two vampire eyes appear before her, which belong to the cuddly toy on the shelf. Tired of being woken up, Tina takes Rachel’s favourite toy and gives it to her. She hugs the teddy bear, and then Rachel falls asleep. A simple story where the author once again delicately deals with a subject which affects the youngest readers: fear of the dark and nighttime horrors.