Review by Booklist Review
Ages 4-6. The resourceful young hero of There's a Nightmare in My Closet has a new problem there's an alligator under his bed. His parents can't see it, but it's there, and to smoke it out the boy trails a line of food that alligators like to eat (peanut butter sandwiches, candy, vegetables, apple pie) to the garage, where the boy hopes the creature will stay. Sure enough, the alligator falls for the trick, and the boy locks him in. Now the only question is: will his dad have any trouble getting the car started tomorrow? Although pleasant enough, this is neither as fresh nor as funny as Mayer's previous title. The illustrations have a heavy look; dark hues and solid shapes are accented by thick black lines. Nevertheless, the oversize pictures will work well in story-hour groups, as will the short, snappy text. IC. Alligators Fiction / Bedtime Fiction [CIP] 86-19944
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2 In one or two lines of text per page and large, boldly colored illustrations, Mercer tells the tale of a little boy who is sure that there is an alligator under his bed. Getting no sympathy from his parents who ``never saw it,'' he forms a plan of attack. He leaves a trail of food from his bed through the house to the garage door. He then follows behind as the alligator gobbles up the goodies, fresh vegetables, fruit, and even ``the last piece of pie,'' making its way to the garage. The boy then locks the door. The last page shows the note he leaves for his father, telling him that there's an alligator in the garage and to wake him up ``if you need help.'' Children will relate to this young hero's triumph over normal childhood fears, and they'll love his clever solution to his problem. The book gleams with crisp full-color watercolor illustrations, and the alligator has just the right touch of scariness. The little boy is obviously a child of the 1980s, with his hot wheels tricycle and robot transformer type toys, but the story is timeless. Sure to become as popular as Mayer's There's a Nightmare in My Closet (Dial, 1968) and bound to be a storyhour staple.Patricia Homer, Lowville Acad . , N.Y. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The young hero of There's a Nightmare in My Closet returns, now a couple of years older. He is annoyed by that perennial childhood fantasy--an alligator under his bed. He resolves his problem by luring the alligator into the garage. His final action is to leave a note for his father, so he will be cautious when getting the car. As in the earlier title, the child masters his fear and appears completely in charge. The droll, vigorous color illustrations carry the action along in an amusing, spirited fashion. The style is reminiscent of Nightmare without being repetitious. This book should be enjoyed by children as much as its predecessor; it will help them conquer another nighttime fear. An excellent companion for a popular classic. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
