The Night Monster

First off the book is dark and kind of scary. I LIKE it! This book won the Jarul Book Children’s Choice Award in India in 2017 and it so deserves it. It deserves some american awards too! A little boy is scared of the night. It keeps him up, it makes the curtains, move, etc. So his sister comes up with the idea to write the night monster and ask them to stop. Over many nights and many letters he learns to love the sweet dreams night brings him. This book has heart, it has a great story line, and a simple lesson. The illustrations are extremely well done and different from what most american picture books look like. I love everything about it, and think all libraries need to add it to their collection.
#BBRC #atoz
#LitsyAtoZChildrens

A young boy named Avi fears the nighttime in this award-winning picture-book from India, convinced that a monster lies in wait for him. He confides in his older sister Swati, and she advises him to draw a picture of the monster and then lock it in a box. When that doesn't work, she tells him to write to the monster. When Avi does just that, he receives a reply, sparking an epistolary exchange that eventually succeeds in banishing his fears...

The 2017 winner of The Jarul Picture Book Award, which is given out by children themselves, The Night Monster presents an unusual take on the classic "bedtime fears" story that is so common in the world of children's books. Here we have an older sibling as adviser, we have an epistolary exchange show more that allows the protagonist to explore and discard his fears, one by one, and we have a surprise ending that reveals who the "monster" (at least the letter-writing one, anyway) really is. I enjoyed author Sushree Mishra's tale, and appreciated the inclusion of two fold-out letters, attached to the page. The artwork by Sanket Pethkar is lovely, particularly his depiction of the owl (seen on the cover). Recommended to anyone looking for new and unusual children's books bout bedtime and confronting one's fear of the dark. show less

Young Avi fears the titular Night Monster, but, when Avi turns to his older sister Swati, she helps him, although I don’t want to give away too much. Author Sushree Mishra unfurls a beautiful story about seeing something from someone else’s perspective, while illustrator Sanket Pethkar includes the dark, suggestive illustrations that let readers see things through Avi’s eyes as well.

The book is a treasure for young and old alike. And I truly hope we get to sister Swati again in a sequel.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Myrick Marketing & Media, and Karadi Tales Picturebooks in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very cute children's book. A young boy is scared of the night monster. His older sister has some suggestions to help. Soon the night becomes a peaceful, welcoming place.

My 3-year-old has been afraid at bedtime lately, and I am curious if this book would help her. On the other hand, while I love the (beautiful!) illustrations, I wonder if she would find them a bit dark and spooky. It's kind of a toss-up.

Regardless of my particular child's quirks, I think this is a great book.

I received this book as an electronic ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.