Barbara Jean Hicks

I thought this was a remarkable way to teach children that there is no need to be afraid of the dark...or whatever is lingering underneath your bed! I really love how the author decided to write the story from the monster's point of view. Seeing a blonde hair, blue eyed, human boy as a scary thing is a great way to reverse the roles! It puts a humorous spin on a sensative subject that a lot of kids can relate to! The art work is beautiful and also gives the monsters human characteristics. show more They are seen as just as sensative as humans and the little monster is just as frightened as the little human boy. In the end, I was so glad to see that the boy and the monster ended up being friends! show less

I needed to up the rating on this one, because I love it more and more as the years go by. I'm not sure what is more appealing -- the wonderful art or the authentic and comforting voice. Such a great story, well told, and oh, Boo Dad! Everyone should have a Boo-Dad.

The classic "monster under the bed" story gets turned on its head in this entertaining picture-book from Barbara Jean Hicks, as Bobo, a little horned monster, walks around terrified of the pink-skinned, orange-furred boy lurking under his bed. Can his grandfather, Boo-Dad, convince him to stand up for himself, by relating the story of his own first encounter with a human, and what he learned afterward? Will Bobo succeed in scaring away the intruder? Or will something else - something show more unexpected - happen, offering a different kind of resolution to the problem...?

This being the kind of story it is - that is to say, a reassurance tale - there's never much doubt as to the outcome of the story, but Hicks' folksy narration (although a little uneven) makes getting there lots of fun. The artwork, done by English artist Alexis Deacon (creator of that adorable little lost alien, Beegu), is expressive, with a real sense of mystery and depth to it. I can see why Jitterbug Jam was chosen as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book! Recommended to anyone looking for bedtime books with a slightly different bent, and to fans of Alexis Deacon. show less

In my opinion this is a very unique, but still enjoyable book. The language and style of writing is what stood out the most. This book is not written in Standard English, it is written with more of a vernacular style. For example, in a conversation between the grandfather and the little monster, the grandfather says, “And you know what? Quick as lickety-split ‘n’ spit-fish, that boy going to cringe, going to quake, going to crumble like a week old cookie!” I thought this was very show more interesting, as I have never read a book that was not written in Standard English. However, I think it gives the story great character and adds a unique flavor to the story telling. Another thing I liked about the language was the author’s descriptive word choice. She writes, “Everyone’s swiggin’ hot bug juice and scarfin’ big old monster slabs of homemade bread with jitterbug jam like they been starved since half past June!” I thought this was a great way to describe what the monsters’ breakfast was like that morning. There is a lot of room for imagery and imagination in that sentence. I also liked the message of the story which is, if we embrace one another’s differences we can learn, live, and play together as one. Although Bobo the monster has horns and a tail, while the little boy has orange hair, white skin, and no horns or a tail, they still became friends. The author does a good job of making the plot seem real, even though it is fantasy. The setting is in a normal house, for humans, rather than a made up unrealistic house for monsters. Additionally, the monster family in this story does daily activities just like us humans do (eat, go to work, see family, play games, tell stories). show less