Goodnight, Little Monster!
Helen Ketteman, illus. by Bonnie Leick, Marshall Cavendish, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7614-5683-4
A monster who looks like a lovable cross between a bunny and a wombat prepares for bed: "Brush your fangs, Little Monster./ Get everyone clean,/ and floss out those beetles/ all stuck in-between." Leick's bruise-colored illustrations ratchet up the endearingly gruesome details—the tub has actual claw feet, the monster drinks cold worm juice, and there's an eyeball for a nightlight. But a message of motherly devotion also rings loud and clear: "Sweet dreams, Little Monster./ My darling, sleep tight./ With Mama nearby,/ you'll be safe through the night." Cute, with just the right amount of ick. Ages 5–8. (Aug.)
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Reviewed on: 07/05/2010
Genre: Children's