From the Publisher
"The rhyming text flows well and the bright illustrations are giggle-inducing, especially when the monster does something VERY unexpected." — Kiss the Book
OCTOBER 2017 - AudioFile
Narrator Chris Patton's eager, youthful voice is ideal for portraying a boy who's elated at being chosen as the ninja master for his school play. Lively music throughout adds to the fun, particularly when a "fighting spirit" song matches the child's decision to confront the monster in his bedroom closet. A skilled presentation of words like “snap” and “trap” keeps the rhythm flowing. Patton's rendering of the monster when it's confronted is spot-on when he says in a gentle tone that he prefers to play and not to be scary. Listeners will delight in hearing the pair play and form an endearing friendship. This charming bedtime story is over when the boy says he feels safe and the monster utters a loving "good night." S.G.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2017-07-15
When a kid gets the part of the ninja master in the school play, it finally seems to be the right time to tackle the closet monster. "I spot my monster right away. / He's practicing his ROAR. / He almost scares me half to death, / but I won't be scared anymore!" The monster is a large, fluffy poison-green beast with blue hands and feet and face and a fluffy blue-and-green-striped tail. The kid employs a "bag of tricks" to try to catch the monster: in it are a giant wind-up shark, two cans of silly string, and an elaborate cage-and-robot trap. This last works, but with an unexpected result: the monster looks sad. Turns out he was only scaring the boy to wake him up so they could be friends. The monster greets the boy in the usual monster way: he "rips a massive FART!!" that smells like strawberries and lime, and then they go to the monster's house to meet his parents and play. The final two spreads show the duo getting ready for bed, which is a rather anticlimactic end to what has otherwise been a rambunctious tale. Elkerton's bright illustrations have a TV-cartoon aesthetic, and his playful beast is never scary. The narrator is depicted with black eyes and hair and pale skin. Wallace's limping verses are uninspired at best, and the scansion and meter are frequently off. Only for dedicated fans of the series. (Picture book. 5-8)
