The Nightmare Bug

by Hillary Daecher, Angie Hohenadel (Illustrator)

Overview

Through a relatable experience, The Nightmare Bug empowers children to overcome nightmares

Beware! The Nightmare Bug is creeping into dreams again . . . He's been around sleep for many, many years, turning magical dreams into things we all fear. But not tonight!

• Discover how one small child decides to take control of their nightmares and tackle the Nightmare Bug once and for all.
• With the help and comfort of the child's mother, along with friends Blankie, Bear, and Rhino, the child drifts off to sleep feeling empowered and ready to show the Nightmare Bug there is nothing to be afraid of in the night.
• Skipping through dreams of oceans, giants, and the moon, the child, along with the stuffed friends, searches for the Nightmare Bug.
• When they finally encounter the Nightmare Bug and show the bug the power of what love can do, will the Nightmare Bug disappear forever?

The Nightmare Bug is a powerful message designed to identify and tackle the emotions that bad dreams evoke, and to provide coping methods for children who suffer from nightmares on a regular basis. Perfect for SEL curriculums, the back matter includes conversation starters and expert tips for children upon waking from a bad dream, plus tips for parents to help their child cope with a nightmare.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764364310
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
Publication date:	09/27/2022
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	840L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Hillary Daecher has been writing short stories since she was a child. Her authorial-debut children's picture book, SOAR, was released in 2020. As a child Hillary experienced terrible nightmares herself, so she is hopeful this book will help empower children to overcome their fears. Hillary is a graduate of the University of Delaware and resides in Lititz, Pennsylvania, with her husband and two children. Visit her website at hillarydaecher.com.

Angie Hohenadel's debut as a picture book illustrator was with SOAR in 2020. She has created a breathtaking visual journey through dreams for children to relate to as they read this story. Angie holds a master’s degree from Edinboro University and has been a high school art teacher since 2008. She lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with her sculptor husband and two dogs. Visit her website at angiehohenadel.com.

Editorial Reviews

2022-05-25
When the Nightmare Bug disrupts sweet dreams, Mama has a simple solution.

In this picture book in verse, Daecher sends a wailing child back to dreamland armed (so to speak) with a parental suggestion to find that nightmare bug and give it a good, loving…hug. A surreal chase (“The bug suddenly appears, and with him a crash, / as candy rains down on us like volcanic ash”) leads at last to “a big smooshy hug” that “makes the bug shrink smaller” and the rhyme scheme collapse likewise under the strain so that “the darkness of my dream glows brighter in color.” Still, black backgrounds do indeed brighten the colors of the plush toys, flowing blankets, hard candy, rainbow unicorns, and drowsily smiling sea creatures that accompany the tan-skinned sleeper through Hohenadel’s illustrations. A set of standard-issue parental tips and inane discussion questions (“Have you ever had the Nightmare Bug visit you in dreams? If so, have you ever thought about showing him love so he leaves your dreams?”) add a suitably dozy finish. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Soothing relief in a nightmare’s wake, though the strategy is simplistic and the narrative’s more a stumbler than a trotter. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews