The monster above the bed

PreS-K--Anyone who has ever been certain there was a monster lurking in their room will relate to the story of Blossom and Ivy. Blossom, a one-eyed monster, is certain there is a monster above her bed. She can put the scary thoughts aside during the day, but they return at night. When she gets up the courage to go after the monster, she ends up facing a human girl, just as certain there is a monster under her own bed. The lively illustrations mimic familiar bedtime challenges, but this time there's a twist. This book will provide a terrific opportunity to discuss what happens when we face our fears and work through what's actually behind them. Cheerful digital illustrations give this a Saturday morning cartoon vibrance, and the monster family is notably not scary. VERDICT Completely charming! For everyone who has tried to help a young one face those bedtime monster fears, this offers a pretty good answer.--Darby Wallace

A typical childhood fear turns out to be true…sort of. Blossom is an adorable tot convinced that a monster that lives above her bed causes the creaks, rattles, and grunts she hears each night. Readers will be delighted at Blossom's appearance: She has turquoise fur, tiny orange horns, one giant eye, and rosy cheeks…she's a "monster" herself. When her parents fail to find or even hear anything unusual in her room, Blossom takes matters into her own hands. Collecting the gear she needs and climbing through her window, she emerges from under a bed, only to be caught by the "monster," a human child with brown skin and a dark ponytail. The child unlocks the trap, and Blossom escapes, but now she has a new theory to test. Armed with a pencil, notebook, and camera, she spies on the "monster" and comes to the realization that it's not a monster but a friend above her bed, and the two have great fun together. While the bright digital illustrations are a joy, they also may raise questions, since Blossom and the human are about the same size: Where's the window to Blossom's room, and how does all that fit under the human's bed? Regardless, this is a welcome addition to the canon of books exploring this popular childhood fear. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A fun look at monsters above and below the bed. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.