No Monsters Here

Author: Sharon Jennings
Illustrator: Ruth Ohi
Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2004
Languages:  English, Korean
ISBN 1550417878 (hc)
ISBN 1 55041-789-4 (sc)

Booklist:

“In this unusual tale, a boy is fearless about monsters in the bedroom, but his father needs reassurance and a little coaxing at bedtime…this role-reversal story will amuse many children by making the boy the powerful, sensible one in the family. All the fears children may feel when the lights go out are projected onto the big guy in the purple pajamas, who becomes a sympathetic figure in Ohi’s sensitive line drawings, washed with warm colours. Though never acknowledged in the text, two cuddly monsters play hide-and-seek, and children will enjoy finding them in the pictures of this amusing bedtime book.”

Today’s Parent:

“No more cookies, it’s time for bed - and just one story before lights out.” In this fun role reversal, it’s the little boy who delivers this message to his dad, who’s afraid of the dark (and monsters). But when the little boy has second thoughts, imagining how his dad must feel, everyone gets a welcome reprieve. And readers get a chance to see what those monsters are really up to!”

School Library Journal:

“A small boy describes the unusual bedtime routine at his house. Every night when the child decides it’s time to go to bed, his monster-fearing father, who doesn’t want to be left alone, tries to coax him into staying up. Even offers of more cookies and another story don’t deter the youngster from his desired rest. After checking under the bed, in the closet, and behind the curtains for the dreaded beasts, the boy assures the man that they just aren’t there. Readers, however, can see a giggling creature and its child gleefully hiding just out of sight. Lying in the dark after his dad has finally gone downstairs, the boy yields to the temptation of snuggling with him and enjoying one last cookie and story together. Sitting behind them on a stack of clean laundry, the two monsters are also listening and snacking. Soft pastel watercolors show a woebegone-looking adult and his fearless, cape-wearing offspring. The green and yellow monsters sport shaggy tails, wings, large ears, and unicorn horns but are cuddly rather than scary. This bedtime story with a twist will satisfy children who enjoy seeing the little one being the comforter. ” ( Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI )