Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1131448 in Books
• Published on: 1998-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 52 pages

Customer Reviews

Monster Humor!
Children live in a world of magic in which what they can imagine becomes real. As a result, most children are afraid of imaginary monsters in their rooms as some point. This story builds on that point to help children seen that this view may be a little foolish.

Instead of a child being afraid of monsters, this is a book about a little monster named Giles who's afraid of boys! And he has good reason to be . . . because when the clock strikes ten a boy dressed as in Native American headdress appears under the bed and dances all about. The monster parents are called, and provide the customary parental advice, "Boys don't exist today." The hijinks continue every night until dawn, when the boy disappears under the bed again. When Giles sings a song of prayer one night, the boy talks to him. Threatened with more prayers, the boy admits he needs help. "I've lost my way. Won't you please let me stay?" Giles learns that the boy is afraid of monsters, too! Giles helps the boy find his way home again and enjoys playing with the boy and his friends. Now, nights are a pleasure for both! So when a monster comes out from under the boy's bed, it's because they want to be together.

As interesting as the story is, the illustrations are the strongest part of this book. The colors are bright and the details are a little rough like a child might put into her or his drawings and watercolors. There are little surprises that provide delight. For example, Giles looks just like a little boy sleeping in his room on page two. Then you get a different feeling when he turns around on page 4. His "monster" exterior is softened by having him wear glasses! The action sequences by the boy reminded me of Where the Wild Things Are. In addition, there are subtle alterations in the same scene from illustration to illustration. Children can seek the changes . . . a childhood favorite in our household.

Alas, I don't have any young children to read this book to. I hope you do!

When your child reads this will he ask to play with monsters
Are your children afraid of monsters under the bed? Have you tried telling them there aren't? Do they still believe there are? If you have and they are still convinced then this is the book for you.

No, this isn't another monster book. This is a book that I cannot recommend enough to mothers and fathers of small children. Why, you ask? My son is four years old and afraid of monsters under the bed, actually he was, until I read him this book. After reading him The Boy Under The Bed, he asked me to let the monsters come in. He wanted to meet them.

The Boy Under The Bed is a cute picture book about a monster named Giles and a little boy that crawls out from under his bed every night. Giles is afraid of little boys because they will make "Monster Pie" out of him. His parents repeatedly tell him there is no such thing as boys. (Like we tell our children about monsters)

One night Giles talks with the boy and becomes friends. He shows the boy back home and meets his other friends. They play all sorts of games. This is a story of monsters and boys, a story of how we got the phrase, "Monsters under the bed."

The illustrator, Nicholas Dollak has also added to this fun book by adding or changing something new to every page. Look at the illustrations and try to figure out what is different. This is a great learning game for the little ones and even fun for adults.

After your child reads this will he be asking to play with monsters?...

Wonderfuly Imaginative and Inventive
I wanted to say, What a clever idea. A baby monster has a terrible, awful boy under his bed. This story is a winner from start to finish. The illustrations are delightful and add so much to the story as well.