Bedtime for Monsters: A Picture Book

by Ed Vere

In this hilarious bedtime story, a monster is licking his lips . . . maybe he's thinking about eating a bedtime snack? And what if that snack just happened to be you? Gulp! He's getting closer and closer . . . and his tummy is rumbling really loudly. But all this monster actually wants is a sloppy monster-sized goodnight kiss!

Genres: Picture Books, Monsters, Storytime, Childrens, Humor, Halloween, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 23, 2011

About the author

Ed Vere is a British writer and illustrator of children's books. He won the Highland Children's Book Award in 2007 for his book, The Getaway and was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal for children's book illustration, recognizing his 2008 picture book Banana.

Reviews

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one, but it is a little dark. What if there are monsters. . .and what if one is coming to eat you?! It's actually quite a silly and sweet monster, but you don't find this out until MUCH later. Most of the book is a build up to a monster sneaking into a kiddo's room, with the possible intention of having a child for a snack. I would love to share this with a group, but I'm hesitant. I keep thinking of the sweet, sensitive kids who might not be able to get the vision of a mean kid-eating monster out of their heads, even when they find out THIS monster wasn't mean after all. (What if there are other monsters and they ARE mean?! And HUNGRY?!?!) But for the preschool-aged kids who enjoy a little bit of scary, this is a great choice.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if a monster were looking for a bedtime snack? And what if that snack just happened to be you? GULP! He's getting closer and closer . . . and his tummy is rumbling REALLY loudly. You'd be very scared! BUT all this monster actually wants is a lovely monster-sized goodnight kiss. Night, night!

Ed Vere is also the author and illustrator of Mr Big, the story about the big Gorilla with the big heart and The Getaway. Banana, his book for preschoolers, is the perfect book about manners but only has two words - 'yes please' of course!

Ed Vere studied fine art at Camberwell College of Art and has been writing and illustrating children's books since 1999. He is published in both England and the US. Ed is also a painter, working from his studio in East London and is represented by galleries in London and Los Angeles. After a year and a half living in Barcelona, Ed now lives and works in London.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story includes lots of fun onomatopoeia and a funny ending to make the concept of monsters funny and not quite so scary.

It's a good book to read at bedtime with children, as long as it is read in a very comical, silly way. I am sure it will incite lots of giggles with the numerous noises the 'monsters' make.

The narrative is short and the illustrations are vibrantly colorful and cartoonish, making this book appropriate for reading with children of all ages.

I wish it had been available when our girls were young; I bet they would've loved it.

[Iqra Fiaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny and engaging text that can be used alongside other texts with fictional creatures in them to explore the way they are typically perceived and the typical roles they have in books. For example, this book can be used with the Gruffalo to explore the way monsters are normally labelled as bad to begin with.

Children could also use this text to create and describe their own monsters when learning about adjectives.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book. I would definitely buy this book because it's one you can read over and over again at bedtime.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"...maybe he's thinking about you in an eating-you-up kind of way?"

Reminded me of both When a Monster is Born and Going on a Bear Hunt. Some children will definitely be too stressed by the idea of a monster on its way to their door to enjoy this at all, but the kids who make it through to the end of the story might wind up with a story they can enjoy re-reading and practicing their I-don't-have-to-worry-it's-just-a-book skills.

Would be fun to pull out for a Valentine storytime.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so cute! It is charming and wonderful for young children and their parents to read together at bedtime. It gives the impression of being somewhat scary at first, but it resolves in a very sweet way. The pictures are fabulous and the text is short and sweet with lots of variation in print styles.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not impressed with this book. While the book isn't awful, I find the idea that a monster who is coming to eat you is slightly disturbing. And ending with a kiss being worse than a monster eating you mixes up priorities a little.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tried this in story time with preschoolers - I could tell part way through - not a great idea. I kind of had to hurry through it so they knew the monster was not coming to eat them! :| My own preschooler loved it, but snuggling with your mom helps with the bravery factor I'm sure!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is too freaking cute, lots of great noises/interaction with kids for storytime. I am so taking this on all my outreaches and doing this for my next storytime :)

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice twist on the bedtime monster. My five year old loved it.

[Cosette · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun!

[Sunah Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text keeps asking questions to readers such as "A monster would visit your bedroom to eat you?" or "the monster is getting close to you to eat you up?” The text creates scary moods, but the last page shows that the monster would visit your room to give "a disgustingly sloppy goodnight kiss!"
The texts in every page increase tensions and fears that the monster would visit the reader’s room to eat the child at night. The story would be interesting for some readers, but I think it took too long to figure out what the monster would do when visiting a bedroom at night. Some kids would be afraid of being eaten until the end of the story. However, the readers could guess the hidden plot twist by reading illustrations. Although the texts give hints of scary nature of a monster which is stereo-typically expected, the illustrations are with vibrant and vivid colors. Even the monster looks clumsy and smiley. That is, the texts and illustrations create different moods, and which may be the value of this picturebook.

[Mary Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute and silly book. The whole book talks about a monster wanting a bedtime snack and that he was coming to eat you. It tells us about his journey to your bedroom door. Each page it tells us how hungry she is and tells use his stomach is rumbling. Finally, the monster makes it to the bedroom door and he opens it.. all he wanted was a big, sloppy, disgusting goodnight kiss. The beginning of the book might be a little scary for younger children but the ending is silly and funny. It also says we might want to leave out a bedtime snack for the monster just in case.

[Sarah Lontine · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 2-year-old was both terrified and enthralled with this book. The first time we read it, he kept repeating nervously, "The monster is not coming to our house!" I think he really was worried the monster might barge into the room at any second. But after he realized the monster was not actually going to eat him, he requested this book again and again. Very cute story for toddlers and preschoolers---if they don't mind being a little scared!

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reminded me of "The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear," but not quite as charming. I have to read it with a very light touch to avoid scaring the kiddos. Still, it's cute, and as long as you know your audience, it's a keeper. Just be careful to make it all sound a little ridiculous if reading with tender kids. I got my group saying "NO!" at the end of the pages. It seemed to help them.

[Daija · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for children. The key topic is to show children that monsters have a bedtime too. In this story we see a monster go on an adventure to find someone to go eat, however we learn that monsters have a bedtime too. Many kids tend to think when they go to bed, the monster is going to get them, however in this story we see that monsters live far away and at nighttime, they go to sleep as well. I rate this book a 5/5 because I think it shows kids that monsters are not under their bed or in the closet. This is important for them to know because it could possibly help them sleep better.

[Portable · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute pictures, though the story is a bit insubstantial. Like a sort of Bear Hunt but with the monster chasing you. What if a monster were coming to eat you up? As the book goes on, the monster gets closer and closer until finally it arrives - ready to give you a big goodnight...KISS! Monster books are always popular, so I'm sure this will get plenty of readers in our library, but not a classic.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

A fantastic bedtime story that is a little bit scary and a lot a bit fun. Great for kids who like monsters. Simple illustrations and text, that make up a hilarious, entertaining read.

This will be an instant favorite to be read again and again. It's a nice, quick book sure to delight. Great read.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book for a storytime! I think that it could be a bit scary for younger children, but with the right inflection in the voice it would be wonderful. It's silly and the monster isn't too scary.

[Marieke Leest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heel leuk voorleesverhaaltje voor kinderen die niet bang zijn van monsters onder hun bed (of zo). Het is wel een klein beetje eng maar het eindigt goed! (Je wil uiteraard toch dat je kind gaat slapen na het verhaaltje).

[emyrose8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly creepy (because the monster might want to eat you) but also cute. Surprise twist at the end. This would be a good one to read to someone as long as they wouldn't get scared about a monster coming to find them.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't my favourite Ed Vere book. It's a little bit too dark and twisted for me. While I was reading it I anticipated my 2 1/2 year old grandkids reaction to a monster coming to eat them. I don't think it will lead to sweet dreams. I suspect that older readers will enjoy it though.

[Sue Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. Full of fun, noises (great for phase one phonics), colour, monsters, quirky illustrations to spot, questions (it demands interaction), movement (you may like to read this in a big space) and childhood comforts.

[LEX · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es un cuento muy entretenido, me agrada la forma de narrarlo, como si estuviera dialogando verdaderamente con el niño. Además que es inesperado su final de alguna forma, aparte me recuerda al juego de "el lobo"

[AMY · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story of a monster who might be coming to eat you (reader) but has another idea instead. Cute illustrations and simple but fun plot. Recommended for Grades K-2.

[Jen CE · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy to be adding this cute bedtime story to my LFL this month!

[Con Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great illustrator and funny storyteller...

[Jennifer B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, dark humor for kids.

[Adrianne Rosal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our librarian at school read this one for our students at school and they just loved it!! Even monsters need to be loved. Very cute!