Goodnight, Little Monster

by Helen Ketteman, Bonnie Leick (Illustrator)

Overview

Little Monster needs to get ready for bed. That means howling at the moon, scrubbing his scales, getting into his creepy PJs, and enjoying a nice snack before bed: worm juice and baked beetle bread. And, of course, Little Monster’s mother is nearby to tuck Little Monster into bed and turn on his night-light—because even little monsters can be afraid of the dark. Bonnie Leick’s soft, child-friendly illustrations rendered in watercolor bring a new and quiet twist to the evening’s bedtime ritual. Sweet dreams, Little Monster!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761456834
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	01/05/2012
Series:	Little Monster , #1
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.60(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD440L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Helen Ketteman has written twenty-seven books for children, including the popular Little Monster books, illustrated by Bonnie Leick, and At the Old Haunted House, illustrated by Nate Wragg. Her books have received numerous awards and accolades, such as Best Books of the Year by the Boston Globe, Pick of the List books by the American Booksellers Association, and inclusion on many state award lists. She lives with her husband on Sanibel Island, Florida. Learn more about the author at www.helenketteman.com.

Editorial Reviews

A monster who looks like a lovable cross between a bunny and a wombat prepares for bed: "Brush your fangs, Little Monster./ Get everyone clean,/ and floss out those beetles/ all stuck in-between." Leick's bruise-colored illustrations ratchet up the endearingly gruesome details--the tub has actual claw feet, the monster drinks cold worm juice, and there's an eyeball for a nightlight. But a message of motherly devotion also rings loud and clear: "Sweet dreams, Little Monster./ My darling, sleep tight./ With Mama nearby,/ you'll be safe through the night." Cute, with just the right amount of ick. Ages 5-8. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 2—Bedtime rituals, monster-style. In the tub, Little Monster scrubs his scales and his mom picks all the bugs off his "cute, furry ears." His bedtime snack includes worm juice and baked beetle bread. He brushes his fangs and chooses a book to cuddle up with. While the text is quite fun to read, it is the watercolor illustrations that steal the show. Each page is filled with kid-friendly monster details such as a toothbrush with a bone handle, spider pj's, a tub with real claw feet, an eyeball night-light, and, of course, bats and mice all around. Take a standard "getting ready for bed" picture book, add in a good dose of Halloween monster stuff, and you get this delightful tale. A fun storytime or anytime book for all but the most sensitive child.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

School Library Journal