The Boy Under The Bed

Rating:
Summary: 4 ½ * The Monster Who Was Afraid of Boys!
Review: A colorful book that doesn't quite reach its potential, "The Boy Under the Bed" is about a young monster, Giles, with nighttime fears that a BOY may be hiding under his bed! When he calls his big-headed (literally), tusked parents into his room, the boy disappears. (The parents later comfort/admonish their son by saying "...THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS AS BOYS.") But Giles knows better:

"But once the lights are turned out that mischievous boy is at it again, whooping, hollering, and laughing. Jumping from the dresser to the floor and thumping against the door. Wearing a sheet and saying "BOO TO YOU!!!"

Preston McClear and Nicholas Dollak produce playful, colorful books: There's a purposeful discontinuity between the illustrations (a poster on the monster's bedroom door changes 3 times in 3 successive pages) and the effect is like the "I Spy" books or "Where's Waldo.' The monsters are-let's face it-refreshingly ugly, unlike the shaggy but adorable creatures of Maurice Sendak. Still, the first section of the book lacks sufficient imagination, the writing is sometimes a bit forced, and most of the illustrations are from one perspective only-it's a little flat.

The second "act" is much better, as Giles breaks out of his bedroom to courageously help the boy find his way back home. And what a home it is! After journeying through "door #10" they climb a spiral staircase to a `mighty tree-house perched in the skies." It's a remarkable illustration.... row upon row of beds in a Central Park like setting; it's a multi-treed tree house! Boys appear from everywhere, climbing and swinging like monkeys and quite easily forming an easy friendship with the formerly scary boy: "Three cheers for my friend the monster!" Freed from the confines of Gile's bedroom, Nicholas Dollak produces beautiful, cinematic images of the boys and monster romping about the vast tree house.

I would have liked to see more of this imaginative style in the beginning of the book. Still, the subtle message about facing your fears and finding similarities is a helpful one, and the tree house scenes and peaceful ending make it a satisfying experience. (52 pages of text and illustrations on very high quality paper; Malibu again sets a standard for quality production.) Look for McClear and Dollak's stunning "The Sailor and the Sea Witch" and the very funny "Frannie and Pickles" as well!

Rating:
Summary: 4 ½ * The Monster Who Was Afraid of Boys!
Review: A colorful book that doesn't quite reach its potential, "The Boy Under the Bed" is about a young monster, Giles, with nighttime fears that a BOY may be hiding under his bed! When he calls his big-headed (literally), tusked parents into his room, the boy disappears. (The parents later comfort/admonish their son by saying "...THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS AS BOYS.") But Giles knows better:

"But once the lights are turned out that mischievous boy is at it again, whooping, hollering, and laughing. Jumping from the dresser to the floor and thumping against the door. Wearing a sheet and saying "BOO TO YOU!!!"

Preston McClear and Nicholas Dollak produce playful, colorful books: There's a purposeful discontinuity between the illustrations (a poster on the monster's bedroom door changes 3 times in 3 successive pages) and the effect is like the "I Spy" books or "Where's Waldo.' The monsters are-let's face it-refreshingly ugly, unlike the shaggy but adorable creatures of Maurice Sendak. Still, the first section of the book lacks sufficient imagination, the writing is sometimes a bit forced, and most of the illustrations are from one perspective only-it's a little flat.

The second "act" is much better, as Giles breaks out of his bedroom to courageously help the boy find his way back home. And what a home it is! After journeying through "door #10" they climb a spiral staircase to a 'mighty tree-house perched in the skies." It's a remarkable illustration.... row upon row of beds in a Central Park like setting; it's a multi-treed tree house! Boys appear from everywhere, climbing and swinging like monkeys and quite easily forming an easy friendship with the formerly scary boy: "Three cheers for my friend the monster!" Freed from the confines of Gile's bedroom, Nicholas Dollak produces beautiful, cinematic images of the boys and monster romping about the vast tree house.

I would have liked to see more of this imaginative style in the beginning of the book. Still, the subtle message about facing your fears and finding similarities is a helpful one, and the tree house scenes and peaceful ending make it a satisfying experience. (52 pages of text and illustrations on very high quality paper; Malibu again sets a standard for quality production.) Look for McClear and Dollak's stunning "The Sailor and the Sea Witch" and the very funny "Frannie and Pickles" as well!

Rating:
Summary: When your child reads this will he ask to play with monsters
Review: Are your children afraid of monsters under the bed? Have you tried telling them there aren't? Do they still believe there are? If you have and they are still convinced then this is the book for you.

No, this isn't another monster book. This is a book that I cannot recommend enough to mothers and fathers of small children. Why, you ask? My son is four years old and afraid of monsters under the bed, actually he was, until I read him this book. After reading him The Boy Under The Bed, he asked me to let the monsters come in. He wanted to meet them.

The Boy Under The Bed is a cute picture book about a monster named Giles and a little boy that crawls out from under his bed every night. Giles is afraid of little boys because they will make "Monster Pie" out of him. His parents repeatedly tell him there is no such thing as boys. (Like we tell our children about monsters)

One night Giles talks with the boy and becomes friends. He shows the boy back home and meets his other friends. They play all sorts of games. This is a story of monsters and boys, a story of how we got the phrase, "Monsters under the bed."

The illustrator, Nicholas Dollak has also added to this fun book by adding or changing something new to every page. Look at the illustrations and try to figure out what is different. This is a great learning game for the little ones and even fun for adults.

After your child reads this will he be asking to play with monsters?

Eliza Ferree - Knowyourauthor.com

Rating:
Summary: Monster Humor!
Review: Children live in a world of magic in which what they can imagine becomes real. As a result, most children are afraid of imaginary monsters in their rooms as some point. This story builds on that point to help children seen that this view may be a little foolish.

Instead of a child being afraid of monsters, this is a book about a little monster named Giles who's afraid of boys! And he has good reason to be . . . because when the clock strikes ten a boy dressed as in Native American headdress appears under the bed and dances all about. The monster parents are called, and provide the customary parental advice, "Boys don't exist today." The hijinks continue every night until dawn, when the boy disappears under the bed again. When Giles sings a song of prayer one night, the boy talks to him. Threatened with more prayers, the boy admits he needs help. "I've lost my way. Won't you please let me stay?" Giles learns that the boy is afraid of monsters, too! Giles helps the boy find his way home again and enjoys playing with the boy and his friends. Now, nights are a pleasure for both! So when a monster comes out from under the boy's bed, it's because they want to be together.

As interesting as the story is, the illustrations are the strongest part of this book. The colors are bright and the details are a little rough like a child might put into her or his drawings and watercolors. There are little surprises that provide delight. For example, Giles looks just like a little boy sleeping in his room on page two. Then you get a different feeling when he turns around on page 4. His "monster" exterior is softened by having him wear glasses! The action sequences by the boy reminded me of Where the Wild Things Are. In addition, there are subtle alterations in the same scene from illustration to illustration. Children can seek the changes . . . a childhood favorite in our household.

Alas, I don't have any young children to read this book to. I hope you do!

Rating:
Summary: Monster Humor!
Review: Children live in a world of magic in which what they can imagine becomes real. As a result, most children are afraid of imaginary monsters in their rooms as some point. This story builds on that point to help children seen that this view may be a little foolish.

Instead of a child being afraid of monsters, this is a book about a little monster named Giles who's afraid of boys! And he has good reason to be . . . because when the clock strikes ten a boy dressed as in Native American headdress appears under the bed and dances all about. The monster parents are called, and provide the customary parental advice, "Boys don't exist today." The hijinks continue every night until dawn, when the boy disappears under the bed again. When Giles sings a song of prayer one night, the boy talks to him. Threatened with more prayers, the boy admits he needs help. "I've lost my way. Won't you please let me stay?" Giles learns that the boy is afraid of monsters, too! Giles helps the boy find his way home again and enjoys playing with the boy and his friends. Now, nights are a pleasure for both! So when a monster comes out from under the boy's bed, it's because they want to be together.

As interesting as the story is, the illustrations are the strongest part of this book. The colors are bright and the details are a little rough like a child might put into her or his drawings and watercolors. There are little surprises that provide delight. For example, Giles looks just like a little boy sleeping in his room on page two. Then you get a different feeling when he turns around on page 4. His "monster" exterior is softened by having him wear glasses! The action sequences by the boy reminded me of Where the Wild Things Are. In addition, there are subtle alterations in the same scene from illustration to illustration. Children can seek the changes . . . a childhood favorite in our household.

Alas, I don't have any young children to read this book to. I hope you do!

Rating:
Summary: A Most Hilarious Hook For Children and Adults
Review: Giles lives in a bedroom like many other youngsters his age, "...full of knick knacks, brick bracks & other snacks," but he's not exactly like you and me - Giles is a monster. His room, a peaceful place during the day, morphs into a house of horrors when the dark night sky heralds the arrival of the boy under the bed. The boy is frightening as he scurries about, keeping Giles from a decent night's sleep. Mother and Father are no help - those tricky boys are very clever and can make themselves invisible, if the need arises. So Giles, determined to regain some peace, as well as some Z's, decides to take matters into his own hands. He recites a song that brings the boy to tears. The boy wants to leave, but can't find his way home. Climbing under the bed, armed with a flashlight, Giles helps the boy to find his way back. After spending a bit of time together, the boy and Giles realize an important universal truth - no matter what a being looks like on the outside, we are all pretty much the same on the inside. Young monsters and young boys both like to play and they both can feel alone and afraid when they are lost in the dark. Full of colorful and imaginative illustrations, this twist on the popular notion of monsters hiding under the bed will appeal to young girls, boys, and monsters everywhere. --Reviewed by Michelle Smith

Rating:
Summary: The Boy Under A Monster's Bed
Review: I just wanted to let you know how much my children enjoy this book! We met the author at the King of Prussia Mall on April 8th, and I wasn't planning to buy a book that day, but when he told the story, I couldn't resist. My 2 children, Scotty (5) and Jillian (Almost 3) ask me to read it to them several times a day, not just at bedtime. My husband just read it for the first time today and he really enjoyed it too!!

Thank you for a delightful story!

Rating:
Summary: Instant Classic. Great Bedtime Story!
Review: Many kids are afraid of the dark. Many more kids are afraid of monsters, especially in the dark. This instant classic shows kids that monsters are afraid of boys under the bed, and in the dark. My son wanted to know why a monster would be afraid of him. He then acknowledge what he already knew, that monsters were not real.
This is a terrific book for children aged 4-8. The illustrations are glorious and the dialogue is hilarious. It is a wonderful bedtime book that your child will want to read again and again.
A companion book or movie is of course, Monsters, Inc., a story in which wonderfully creative and hilarious monsters scare young children when they are sleeping.
This story will not scare your child, which was a concern of mine. Instead, you and your child can talk and your child will go right to sleep. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Instant Classic. Great Bedtime Story!
Review: Many kids are afraid of the dark. Many more kids are afraid of monsters, especially in the dark. This instant classic shows kids that monsters are afraid of boys under the bed, and in the dark. My son wanted to know why a monster would be afraid of him. He then acknowledge what he already knew, that monsters were not real.
This is a terrific book for children aged 4-8. The illustrations are glorious and the dialogue is hilarious. It is a wonderful bedtime book that your child will want to read again and again.
A companion book or movie is of course, Monsters, Inc., a story in which wonderfully creative and hilarious monsters scare young children when they are sleeping.
This story will not scare your child, which was a concern of mine. Instead, you and your child can talk and your child will go right to sleep. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Loved this story
Review: This book has really nice gentle, humorous illustrations. & I think any person who's ever been afraid of the dark can appreciate this book. The fact that the boys and monsters become friends once they get to know each other is a very positive message for kids. Best of all, the book doesn't preach.