My Friend the Monster - Hardcover

PreSchool-Grade 1—Louis, a quaintly drawn fox, moves to a new home and soon discovers a monster under his bed. He is quite prepared to be scared until he finds that the creature is both timid and lonely. He invites the hulking, one-eyed fuzz ball to snuggle under the covers and introduces him to the rest of the family the next morning. After breakfast, they venture to the playground, and Louis must give his green buddy a pep talk about making friends. Their plan to be brave and smile pays off when an affable goose introduces herself and asks them to play. Louis and his companion return home to find a finished bedroom with two beds awaiting them. Unfortunately, a jumping contest with a monster proves more than the ceiling can handle. This meandering story will reassure children who are experiencing a move or facing nighttime fears. Though Barbara Jean Hicks's Jitterbug Jam (Farrar, 2005) tells the boy-meets-monster tale with more style, Taylor's gentle watercolors of smiling woodland creatures will appeal to a less sophisticated (and more easily frightened) audience. A supplemental purchase.—Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI
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