Smarter Than a Monster: A Survival Guide

Mull and Walton’s message-heavy picture book aims to diffuse the anxiety of imagined horrors at bedtime. The way to banish monsters, the text sensibly suggests, is for kids to arm themselves with knowledge about their characteristics, behaviors, and weaknesses. As Walton’s neon-bright cartoons show children demonstrating the dos and don’ts of dealing with the impish beasts, Mull provides monstrous attributes largely aimed toward ensuring that children practice sterling habits. According to the text, monsters don’t attack kids who sleep in their own beds, avoid television, and regularly brush their teeth and bathe (“not only do they avoid clean children, monsters hate the smell of soap”). Though additional advice (for example to avoid clowns) feels more tongue-in-cheek, readers are likely to recognize the subterfuge at hand. Ages 4–8. [em](Oct.) [/em]