Publishers Weekly
09/02/2019
In this peppy prequel to I Need My Monster and Hey, That’s MY Monster!, Noll and McWilliam reveal how Ethan, a child, chose Gabe as his personal monster when he was younger. Three other vividly hued monsters compete for the job, under the direction of their teacher, Mr. Zee, but only Gabe, with his neon-green fur, spiked tail, and bulbous vermillion eyes, has the aptitude for scaring Ethan into bed—and keeping him there. Gabe, whose size increases exponentially after he snacks on some of the boy’s crackers, clinches the role thanks to some secret weapons: the lime-green drool that oozes out from his resting spot under the bed as well as his snorts and gentle threats (“Got any toes I can munch?”), which simultaneously give the boy shivers and lull him to sleep. Like the text, McWilliam’s brassy digital acrylics are more silly than scary, with the characters’ wildly exaggerated facial expressions amplifying the comedy. Ages 5–7. (Nov.)
From the Publisher
"It isn’t uncommon for children to be afraid that monsters are hiding under their beds or in their closets. However, the monsters have met their match with the cute boy in this week’s picture book for children... This picture book might be a great gift for a child you know—who doesn’t like to stay in bed, perhaps?" —Diane Prather, Craig Daily Press
"One night, before bed, Etan discovers a note under his bed, inviting all monsters to meet there for their final test. Monsters? Good thing he doesn’t believe in monsters. Then he hears rumbling, grumbling, and mumbling coming from under his bed, followed by the most shocking display of four little monsters and their teacher crawling out from under his bed. As each monster gives their best shot at scaring Ethan, he can only erupt in laughter. Will Ethan ever find the perfect monster to keep under his bed? In the most adorable tale exploring and explaining the mystery of monsters under the bed, How I Met My Monster is a bedtime must-read story. Delightfully cute illustrations vividly spread across the pages will keep even the youngest of listeners captivated. The perfect balance of giggles and scares, little ones will no longer be scared of a monster under their bed, but ask for one instead. Taking what used to be a frightful nighttime routine of checking under the bed and in closets, Amanda Noll and Howard McWilliam, instead, turn this routine into the delightful prospect of gaining a nighttime friend." —Amy Shane, San Francisco Book Review
Kirkus Reviews
2019-06-23
In a tardy prequel to I Need My Monster (2009), candidates for that coveted spot under the bed audition.
As the distressingly unflappable young narrator looks on, one monster after another gives it a go—but even with three mouths, the best roar Genghis can manage is a puny "blurp!", silly shadow puppets by shaggy Morgan elicit only a sneeze, and red Abigail's attempt to startle by hiding in the fridge merely leaves her shivering and pathetic. Fortunately, there's Gabe, who knows just how to turn big and hairy while lurking outside the bathroom and whose red-eyed stare and gross drooling sends the lad scrambling into bed to save his toes. "Kid, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," the toothy terror growls. Right he is, the lad concludes, snuggling down beneath the covers: "His snorts and ooze were perfect." As usual, the white-presenting child's big, bright, smiling face and the assortment of bumbling monsters rendered in oversaturated hues keep any actual scariness at tentacle's length. Moreover, Monster, Inc. fans will delight in McWilliam's painstaking details of fang, claw, hair, and scales.
Frightful and delightful: a comforting (to some, anyway) reminder that no one sleeps alone. (Picture book. 5-8)
