The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Noll, Amanda

I Need My Monster

32 pp. | Flashlight | April, 2009 | Trade ISBN 978-0-9799746-2-5 $16.95

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Howard McWilliam. Ethan's under-the-bed monster has "Gone Fishing." Missing the creature's familiar "ragged breathing," "nose-whistling," and "spooky green ooze," Ethan wonders how he'll ever get to sleep. Substitute monsters apply, but none passes inspection. The humorous text diffuses bedtime fears (though the joke goes on too long). Synthetic-looking digitally painted illustrations bring the sort-of-scary, mostly-silly monsters out of their lairs.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan