Little Monster says goodnight

"Goodnight leeches,/ Goodnight bats,/ Goodnight squid thing,/ Goodnight rats." Slonim plays familiar bedtime routines for laughs in this not-so-scary look at how Momster and Big Monster help Little Monster settle in for the night. From savoring a snack of sour milk and burnt cookies to chomping down bedtime stories instead of reading them, Little Monster progresses through pre-slumber activities that readers will be eager to compare with their own. The devilish humor is in the visual details as acrylic and charcoal illustrations depict a brightly colored, furred-and-horned monster family and their cozy household. Scenes of Little Monster taking a bath in a tub filled with cold mud and an old tire, and being tucked into a bed strewn with trash, are sure to elicit giggles--and perhaps a request to check under the bed. Ages 3--5. (Aug.)

Avery unusual sleepy-time sendoff. "Momster" is preparing Little Monster for bed. First, she serves a yummy treat: sour milk and burnt cookies. Before hitting the hay, Little Monster lets out the family's pet giant tarantula. Then comes a warm mud bath, though Little Monster forgets to crumple up the "filthy towel" so it can fester on the floor and must be reminded to "leave disgusting glops of fangpaste all over the place." Kids will relate to the other familiar nighttime rituals that follow, all with hilarious tweaks. Little Monster and Momster literally devour their favorite storybooks, and a thirsty Little Monster sips water from a fishbowl. Asked to check for monsters under the bed, Little Monster's other parent happily responds, "Found one!" and tells the little one to think of "something scary" to guarantee a bad dream. This may not be the best book to read aloud right before bedtime, because children will be chuckling too heartily to fall asleep while delightedly comparing their bedtime routines to Little Monster's. Kids will also enjoy seeing the warm relationship between Little Monster and the parents, who make bedtime pleasant and comforting. The goofy, thick-lined illustrations feature an endearing Little Monster and a winsome, decidedly unscary pair of monster parents, all of whom are reminiscent of Maurice Sendak's Wild Things, with the cuteness ofSesame Street characters. Monstrously appealing storytime fun.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.