How I Met My Monster

 

Shirley J.              Juvenile Fiction                     The Monster Assigned to Hide Under the Bed

How I Met My Monster by Amanda Noll    32 pages    

It seems everyone that sleeps in a bed is assigned their very own monster to sleep underneath it.   Those glowing eyes you see in the dark if you are brave enough to lean over and take a peek under your bed, those noises heard in the night, creaking floors and the occasional burp - that's your monster.   According to this book, monsters aren't randomly assigned to people, they first have to go to Monster school, then prove their compatibility with the child they are then assigned to.   Their teacher Mr. Z. brought 4 potential candidates for the position of Ethan's monster.    Ethan learned this when reaching for his toy truck that was yes, under his bed.   Ethan found a note that read: "Monsters!  Meet here for final test."  At first he thinks his parents are trying to trick him so he will be scared and stay in bed until he falls asleep, but, then the teacher and his 4 students show up in Ethan's room!  Full of fun and a bit of fright this book explains the whole purpose of monsters under the bed are to of course keep kids In Bed until they fall asleep.  You learn something new all the time.   The book is recommended for 3-8 year olds, but, I would go with the latter 8 year old end.  I think it might weigh on the minds of the younger set then who could get them to sleep?    A cute book and Ethan is a pretty plucky kid.   Once that monster starts growing, Ethan is way braver than I would have been.