There's a Monster Under My Bed

Something is under Simon's bed. He can hear it breathing. Is it a monster? Simon has to find out. He shines a flashlight under the bed, to discover that something is hiding there — but what?

This warm and humorous story will delight any child who has ever envisioned monsters lurking in the bedtime darkness.

Simon is sure there are monsters under his bed in the night--he can even hear them breathing.

Something is under Simon's bed. He can hear it breathing. Is it a monster? Simon has to find out. He shines a flashlight under the bed, to discover that something is hiding there -- but what?

This warm and humorous story will delight any child who has ever envisioned monsters lurking in the bedtime darkness.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2 Simon is sure there is something under his bed. In fact, he's positive he can hear it breathing and feel it thumping. As he stares into the darkness (it's his first time without a night light), he imagines what the monster under the bed looks like. A quick check under the bed with a flashlight reveals that there is something under thereyounger brother Alex, who is hiding from the monster he is certain is under his own bed. The brothers snuggle happily together in Simon's bed, safe at last . . .unconscious of a pair of eyes shining out from under their bed! Not for the very young or timid, this will nonetheless strike a responsive chord in many youngsters who have experienced similar fears. As Simon's anxiety grows, a new set of blobby monsters appears, looking rather more clumsy than sinister, and each more bemused than the last. Simon's wide-eyed, droll expressions match the text nicely, which is often choppy but reflective of a young boy's speech (``Now it's too late. He' s there. Waiting. Waiting for me.''). Not a particularly good choice for a bedtime story, but still an amusing tale during the safe daylight hours.Kathleen Brachmann, Highland Park Public Library, Ill.

James Howe is the author of more than seventy books for young readers, including the popular and award-winning series about Bunnicula and his friends. Among his other books are the Pinky and Rex series, the Sebastian Barth mysteries, and The Misfits and Totally Joe, which inspired the nation-wide initiative for No Name-Calling Week. He lives in New York.