Monster and Boy (Monster and Boy #1)

"There's no such thing as monsters," a bespectacled boy's mother tells him before bed. But the antlered creature who has lived under the bed for years knows that's not true: "he knew the sound of the boy's voice, and he loved that sound. He knew the smell of the boy's dirty socks, and he loved that smell." Emerging from beneath the bed for the first time, the monster panics when the boy opens his mouth to scream--doing "the only thing he could think of," he swallows the child. At first distressed, the monster manages to cough up the now diminutive boy, and shenanigans ensue: the child is dropped into the toilet, the monster carries him around, and another monsterlike creature is discovered. Barnaby's (Garcia & Colette Go Exploring) entertaining narration breaks the fourth wall--indicated by teal pages--encouraging readers to take an active part in the story, while Syed's (I Am Perfectly Designed) bubbly monochromatic illustrations with teal embellishments add whimsy to this amusing story about an unlikely friendship. Ages 6-9. Author's agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. Illustrator's agent: Taylor Martindale Kean, Full Circle Literary. (July)

Gr 1-3--One night, as a young boy goes to bed, he tells his mother that he is not afraid of monsters. The monster who lives under the bed hears the boy and decides to show him the error of his ways, but things go awry when the boy starts to scream and the monster accidentally swallows him. Together, the monster and the boy solve problems, journey through the house, and meet up with the boy's precocious little sister before finally falling asleep. Young readers will find friends in monster and boy. On most of the pages, Syed's silly and inviting illustrations are rendered in black, white, and teal and perfectly complement the duo's amusing antics. The first line of each chapter is in teal and a different font, which may be challenging for early readers, but the rest of the text is easy to read with plenty of white space. Barnaby directly addresses the reader a few times throughout the story, as well as changes tenses. Newly emergent readers may find this style choice challenging, but it could work well as a teaching tool for slightly older readers or in a read-aloud setting. Otherwise, the language is straightforward and the illustrations work in tandem to support the text. VERDICT This whimsical pair will be a hit with those looking for a playful, adventurous story for early independent chapter book readers. Most collections serving this age range will benefit from this addition.--Ellen Conlin, Naperville P.L., IL

"Callbacks to Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are will resonate with some readers, and fans of that book will appreciate this longer take on kid-monster relationships." —The Bulletin

"Silliness abounds when a boy meets the monster under his bed . . . Hilarious antics ensue . . . Adorable and expressive illustrations, goofball humor and a story full of friendship and hijinks make this a fun, gentle adventure." —Shelf Awareness