The Night Monster

by Sushree Mishra, Sanket Pethkar (Illustrator)

Overview

This hardcover picture book about a child's night-time fears combines the hauntingly beautiful illustrations of Sanket Pethkar with Sushree Mishra's thoughtfully chosen words, to create a story that's relatable and unforgettable. The epistolary elements with a lift-the-flap feature are sure to make this a favorite amongst librarians and young children alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9788181903310
Publisher:	Karadi Tales
Publication date:	09/04/2018
Pages:	30
Product dimensions:	9.75(w) x 9.75(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 9 Years

About the Author

Sushree Mishra is an educator, storyteller, and reading specialist. She has worked with several NGOs and publishing houses in India and the US. Sanket Pethkar is a Mumbai-based freelance illustrator and designer for various publications in India. He graduated with a degree in fine arts and pursued his Master’s in Print Making and has worked as a resident artist at IDC IIT, Bombay

Editorial Reviews

I really liked the loving relationship between Avi and Swati, especially since she doesn’t belittle either her younger brother or his fears. The art work is dark and dreamlike, perfect for this story. The perspective is large and a couple of the letters have flaps to lift both of which serve to draw the reader even more into the story.

Youth Services Press

Avi tells his sister, Swati, that he’s scared of a monster at night. Swati suggests that Avi write a the monster a letter. To his surprise, the monster (who is actually the big sister) writes back. “The shadows are my friends. They don’t want to scare you. They just play with each other. I don’t make the hoot hoot noises. It is my friend Owl. She doesn’t want to scare you. She just likes to sing in the night.” Back and forth (with some lift-the-flaps) Avi and the not-a-monster communicate. Avi soon realizes that the night is not a monster. In fact, he waits for the night to bring him sweet dreams. I love reading about this kind sister who thought of a way to help her brother’s fears! Not to mention, this story reminds me that knowledge can be powerful. Knowing about nocturnal animals, for example, alleviated some of Avi’s fears.

Imagination Soup

A sweet tale of a child who overcomes his fear of the darkness that hoots and the shadows that creep while the curtains dance.

Lauren Paletta

"This book is original, it has engaging flaps, a fresh color palette and is very fun to read aloud. I would highly recommend and will be purchasing."
- Ran Flasterstein, Peekaboo Studios

Peekaboo Studios Ran Flasterstein

This story gives a good example of a child confronting his fears, in this case by writing, and overcoming those fears. It also shows children an example of a kind and supportive sibling relationship... The pictures are engaging, dark and muted, adding a dream-like quality to the book. They bring a sense of mystery and superbly illustrate Avi’s fear, stopping short of being scary. Some of the letters are only revealed by lifting flaps, adding reader interest and participation to the story. This is a great read-aloud book for younger children.

Children's Book and Media Review - Ellen McCarty

"This was honestly a delightful [story]. The art picks up where the words leave off in a perfect balance so that you know exactly how Avi’s fears are manifesting and also how much of a safe harbor he finds in his sister’s love...[a] wonderful story that explores fear and how you can conquer it, especially with loved ones lending a helping hand.” - Book Riot

Book Riot

The Night Monster is a truly wonderful work of art. I’ve read this book several times — I still have to pause on each page to admire Pethkar’s illustrations, and I’m still astonished each time at how much Mishra accomplishes with so few words. If you know a child who is afraid of the dark…if you know a child who loves a good bedtime story…if you love a good story yourself…you need this book.

Spooky Kid Lit

Beautifully written by Sushree Mishra and stunningly illustrated by Sanket Pethkar...The story is the real star here, one that can help make your child’s nighttime so much easier...Highly recommended read for kids aged 4-9. It is also a great read-aloud book to younger kids.

Indian Moms Connect

Engagingly written by educator, storyteller, and reading specialist Sushree Mishra, and strikingly illustrated by artist Sanket Pethkar, "The Night Monster" is hardcover picture book about a child's night-time fears. A memorable and original picture book story for children ages 4 to 9 that's relatable and unforgettable. Of special note are the epistolary elements with a lift-the-flap feature. Certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections, "The Night Monster" is unreservedly recommended.

Midwest Book Review

The Night Monster is the story of a young boy who has trouble sleeping because he is afraid of many things associated with night: shadows, noises, his curtains moving. He tells his sister that there is a night monster. She suggests he draw a picture of the monster and lock it away in a box. He does, but he is still afraid, so she suggests that he write a letter to the monster. The monster replies to him, saying that it is not a monster. The two write letters back and forth, discussing the night things that scare the boy. In the end, the boy is no longer afraid of the night – and we discover that it was his sister who was writing the monster’s replies.There is so much to love about this book! It’s such a great idea: writing to what you fear. I think this is a helpful exercise for kids. The illustrations are artistic and interesting. Some of the letters are part of the pictures, some are flaps to open. The letters are my favorite part.

Manhattan Book Review - Lisa Parker

Striking mixed-media illustrations in a dark blue palette provide a strong sense of Avi's fear. They create an ambiance that works well with the spare text, just scary enough for older preschoolers and early elementary-age kids.

From the Publisher

2018-07-24

Avi fears the monster that scares him at night, so his older sister, Swati, suggests solutions to help him deal with that fear in this Indian import.

He tries drawing the monster on a piece of paper and locking it in a box, but that doesn't work. Swati then recommends writing a letter to the monster, and lo and behold, the monster writes back, its letter tucked under Avi's pillow by morning and signed "Not a Night Monster." So begins a correspondence between Avi and the Night Monster. Avi writes to the Night Monster that it scares him with shadows, hooting noises, moving curtains. The Night Monster explains that it doesn't want to scare Avi, going on to tell him about shadows that play with each other, the owl that hoots, and the wind that "likes to make the curtains dance." Two letters are in a lift-the-flap form, while the rest of them are in standard format. Striking mixed-media illustrations in a dark blue palette provide a strong sense of Avi's fear. They create an ambiance that works well with the spare text, just scary enough for older preschoolers and early elementary-age kids. The illustrations show both siblings with dark hair and pale skin. The rather abrupt ending reveals that Swati has secretly written the Night Monster's letters to help Avi combat his fear of the dark.

Winner of the 2017 Jarul Book Children's Choice Award in India, this kind and playful book may help young readers like Avi to understand and overcome this nearly universal childhood fear. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

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