Brave Little Monster

by Geoffrey Hayes (Illustrator), Ken Baker

Overview

BRAVE LITTLE MONSTER relates the humorous bedtime exploits of a young monster trying to go sleep while a scary little girl hides in his closet eating ice cream and a little boy colors under his bed. The wonderful illustrations by Geoffrey Hayes and fun storyline by Ken Baker make BRAVE LITTLE MONSTER a perfect bedtime story for little monsters everywhere. "Little monsters fear little girls and boys hiding in their rooms in this delightful parody of a nightly bedtime ritual.... Newcomer Baker brings humor to a situation that often has children in tears and parents unable to cope." (Kirkus Reviews) "Add this one to your collection of bedtime books. It's a humorous story that will show kids that even if there is a monster under your bed, it' s probably more scared of you than you are of it!" (Hedgie Review from Hedgehog Books) "Hayes's colorful artwork is clever... Telling a tale from the monster's point of view is an enticing concept." (School Library Journal) "Baker's use of role reversal puts a unique spin on the bogeyman story line that should delight young readers." (Pittsburg Post-Gazette) Visit Ken Baker's website: http: //www.kenbakerbooks.com/

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781502524546
Publisher:	CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date:	10/24/2014
Pages:	38
Sales rank:	403,732
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.10(d)

About the Author

Ken Bakers love for children's books began during childhood, when his parents and older siblings would relate favorite stories of Peter Cottontail, Dr. Seuss, Epaminondas, Curious George, and the three bears. That love for children's books grew as Ken read and made up bedtime stories for his own children.

Geoffrey Hayes's many popular books for children include the My First I Can Read Book Thump and Plunk, Bear by Himself, The Patrick Bear Books, and many beginning reader adventure; about Uncle Tooth and Otto. He lives in San Francisco, California.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-K-This story puts a spin on Mercer Mayer's There's a Nightmare in My Closet (Turtleback, 1968) and James Howe's There's a Monster under My Bed (Atheneum, 1986). Albert, a monster, is terrified of little boys and girls. He knows they lurk in his closet and under his bed, waiting to eat him up. His mother tells him that there are no such phenomena, but this does nothing to alleviate his fears. Finally, with pounding heart, Albert confronts the demons so that he can sleep. Unfortunately, this silly story lacks charm. Baker gives too many plot details that negate any element of fear (a boy playing "piggie" with the monster's toes is not scary). Hayes's colorful artwork is clever, adding details of a bone for a curtain rod and a monster portrait on the wall, but too busy, thus detracting from the story. Telling a tale from the monster's point of view is an enticing concept, but it has been done more creatively in Philippe Corentin's Papa! (Chronicle, 1997) and Jackie French Koller's No Such Thing (Boyds Mills, 1997).-Be Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Little monsters fear little girls and boys hiding in their rooms in this delightful parody of a nightly bedtime ritual. Albert's mother has told him time and again that there are no such things as little girls and boys, but still Albert knows they are there. Little girls hide in the closet and drip ice cream on monster's clothes before eating up the monster, and little boys hide under the bed quietly coloring, just waiting for little monsters to leave the bed so they can play piggie on their toes-before they eat them up. When calling his mother doesn't give him any satisfaction, Albert tackles the menace himself with two unique and childlike solutions. But still he fears being eaten. In a final act of bravery, Albert settles his nighttime fears and is able to fall asleep, proud of his accomplishment. Newcomer Baker brings humor to a situation that often has children in tears and parents unable to cope. Just maybe Albert has given them some useful strategies, especially if making a rude noise seems like an acceptable solution. Hayes's (Thump and Plunk, not reviewed, etc.) illustrations perfectly complement the text. Parents need not worry that Albert will invoke rather than allay fears-he is an adorable little monster, whose human-like emotions are plain on his face. While this is by no means the first of its kind-Jeanne Willis's The Monster Bed (1987) is still the benchmark-it's a great addition to the group of stories that puts monsters in the category of "things that fear you more than you fear them." (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews