My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast

by Zoje Stage

"Nurturing spirit of imagination and acceptance...The tale delves into the nature of friendship and seeing potential in others."
- Pittsburgh City Paper

“A deftly crafted and fun read from start to finish...unreservedly recommended.”

- Midwest Book Review

Listed on The Associated Press's 2024 Holiday Gift Guide for Young Readers

Nine-year-old Pru has many inventing things, collecting stuff, and learning new and interesting words.

But her newest passion is discovering the source of the weird sounds she hears at night—coming from beneath her bed. Ever since she was very little, Pru suspected there might be a special kind of creature making a home in her room. But because UnderSlumberBumbleBeasts only come out in the dark, she had never seen one.

That all changes one day after Pru's mom asks her to clean her room—an ordinary request that sets off an extraordinary chain of events. And Pru's life will never be the same.

First depicted in the international sensation Baby Teeth, a novel for adults, My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast is a quirky and charming story about a girl with a most unusual way of making new friends. Watch what grows underneath the bed…

74 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 3, 2024

About the author

Zoje Stage is a USA Today and internationally bestselling author of psychological thrillers (Baby Teeth, Dear Hanna, Getaway), psychological horror (Wonderland, Mothered), and offbeat books of dark whimsy (My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast, The Girl Who Outgrew the World). She's been a "Book of the Week" author in People magazine, and a Bram Stoker award nominee. Her books have been named "best of the year" by Forbes Magazine, Library Journal, PopSugar, Barnes & Noble, Book Riot, BookPage, Bloody Disgusting, and more. She lives in Pittsburgh with her cats.

Reviews

[A.M. (ᴍʏ.sᴘᴏᴏᴋʏ.ᴡᴀʏs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast by Zoje Stage is a delightful and whimsical story perfect for readers of all ages. Whether you’re an adult who loves magical creatures or a child just starting to explore fun and spooky stories, this book is sure to please. The colorful illustrations on every page make the story even more magical and exciting.

I just received this book today from the publisher (thank you, Bad Hand Books for the gifted copy) and decided to skim it, but I ended up reading it in under 30 minutes. It reminds me so much of the books I read as a child, like In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories, giving me a wonderful hint of nostalgia.

The story follows nine-year-old Pru, a curious and creative girl who loves inventing, collecting interesting things, and learning new words. But lately, she’s been focused on solving a big mystery: the strange noises she hears at night coming from under her bed. Pru has always thought a special creature might be living there, but because UnderSlumberBumbleBeasts only come out in the dark, she’s never seen one.

One day, everything changes when Pru’s mom asks her to clean her room. What seems like a simple chore turns into an incredible adventure. Pru discovers something amazing under her bed, and her life will never be the same.

Zoje Stage, known for her adult novel Baby Teeth, has created a fun and heartwarming story for kids in My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast . It’s a sweet tale about curiosity, imagination, and making friends in unexpected ways. This book is perfect for anyone who loves magical creatures and fun adventures. You’ll never look at the space under your bed the same way again! 🛌

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Paperback

This was so much fun and you don’t need to read her prior work to enjoy it.

There were vocabulary words which may be new to young readers which I loved and there were so many imaginative under the bed friends.

It reminded me of what you’d get if you had a fusion of Alvin Schwartz’s “In A Dark Dark Room” and Toy Story.

The illustrations were really cool too.

[thevampireslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only further solidified my obsession with Stage and the world she has created, super playful and cute! ADORDERIBBLE

[unstable.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay this story was super cute! Zoje crafts a vivid, immersive world as only a child could see it. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone with children in elementary grades or even middle grades. The illustrations are beautiful. Thank you so much to Bad Hand Books for sending me the ARC. Pick this up when it publishes December 03, 2024 from their website!

[Sam Lenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique and imaginative book for children, with plenty for adults to enjoy as well. Loved the “in character” glossary and the illustrations. Beautifully written.

[Jess Cone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot rave enough about this book! Let's start with the illustrations, they are so detailed and imaginative. To me, the style is a mix of Maurice Sendak and Edward Gorey. The UnderSlumberBumbleBeasts remind me of creatures in Nightmare Before Christmas or a Saturday morning show from when I was a kid called Bump in the Night.

Reading this book felt slightly nostalgic. I too was an odd and creative kid like Pru who always had an incredibly messy room. I remember a time or two when the things I shoved under my bed turned into other things.

We could all learn from the way Pru takes responsibility for the Beasts she created and cares for them when they need to find a new home. All creatures need space to thrive and grow.

I read this book in one go and wish my kids were still young. I would have loved to read it aloud to them but they are a bit old for that now. I guess I will have to look forward to reading it to Grandchildren one day. I also loved Pru's glossary of big and unusual words at the end. What a great way to teach children the meaning of words in a fun and relatable way.

Now, I cannot wait to read this author's books for adults. I think this is my favorite Goodreads Giveaway win yet. Even the package it came in was illustrated and included a card with the author and illustrators signature.

[Aleesha Best · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Undsrelumberbumblebeast

From the very first page, Pru reminded me of my own step daughter.
She talks about the way her mother asks if she would like to clean her room (and other things) ‘I have pointed out to Mumbley the unfairness of these questions, as she only wants to hear "Yes" as an answer. And if I said "Yes" I would be lying.’ And I remember having this exact conversation with my stepdaughter, she asked me to rephrase the way I asked her to do things! 😆

The story goes on to follow Pru, and all of the treasures under her bed that become Underslumberbumblebeasts, and how excited pru is about that! Under bed treasures- a child’s favourite thing right?

I hope my kids will let me read this to them as I think they’ll love it! And there are also lots of super fun long words in here, along with a glossary at the back.

Totally recommend !! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Karen (kmo.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are still looking for the perfect gift to give a child in your life, look no further. Pru, is like many 9 year olds, she hates having to clean her room. She does love collecting stuff and has the biggest imagination ever! When she discovers an Underslumberbumblebeast under her bed she suddenly has a reason to be in her room and do all the things she hated doing before.

I adored this book and the illustrations were wonderfully done. It is the perfect book for a young reader especially one who may not be fond of going to bed!

Thank you to @otrpr for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously the cutest children’s book I’ve read in a long time Pru tasked with cleaning her room finds what she’s always been waiting for under slumber bumble beasts. Cute little creatures made from discarded items under the bed but as she continues to try and help by throwing more stuff under for more friends chaos ensues. The illustrations are magical and there’s so much whimsy in this book you can’t help but fall in love with all the creatures. Her mother being a horror writer was the perfect touch. Thank you so much to Bad Hand books for a copy to review it will be read many times 5⭐️

[Donna Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty funny, very cute. A fun twist on the monster under the bed. Pru believes there are small shy creatures who live under beds and could make excellent friends, if only she could find one. And as long as her mom doesn't find out she didn't actually clean her room...

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting was to incorporate higher level vocabulary into a book painlessly!

[Dusti Bontempo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not in the habit of reading children’s books anymore (my kids are all teens now😭), but I was given the opportunity to read My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast because it’s a children’s book featured in a couple of Zoje Stage’s other books. You may have heard of Baby Teeth? Or Dear Hanna? Well, this book is the basis of the weird stuffed toys that Hanna and her brother are often seen toting around.

So, of course I jumped at the chance! I loved Baby Teeth and its completely creepy child, Hanna.

My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast gives a good insight into Hanna’s wild imagination (and even the whole French connection).

It follows Pru, a wildly imaginative girl who finds “beasts” under her bed (made of all the junk that was stored there).

I think kids will really enjoy the fantasy and creativity of Pru and her newly found friends. This is a book I would have loved to read to my kids when they were little!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast
by Zoje Stage, illustrations by J.E. Larson
#onehundredandseventhbookof2024 #arc
#childrensbook

CW: (for children) monsters under the bed

From the publisher: Nine-year-old Pru has many hobbies: inventing things, collecting stuff, and learning new and interesting words.But her newest passion is discovering the source of the weird sounds she hears at night—coming from beneath her bed. Ever since she  was very little, Pru suspected there might be a special kind of creature making a home in her room. But because UnderSlumberBumbleBeasts only come out in the dark, she had never seen one. That all changes one day after Pru’s mom asks her to clean her room—an ordinary request that sets off an extraordinary chain of events. And Pru’s life will never be the same.

My thoughts: This book is written for 7-10 year olds by Zoje Stage, who also was responsible for Mothered, an adult novel from a few years ago that was immensely disturbing. This story is charming and the illustrations by J.E. Larson are very cute. The beasts described are perfectly rendered and believably made up of all of the stuff found in a kid’s room. I think a child who’s just getting into chapter books would enjoy this story and the illustrations.

Thank you to @badhandbooks for the advance copy. (Pub date 12/3/24)

[Lisa Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful story that provides a wonderfully imaginative view of the things that go bump in the night and what they could be. I adored everything about this book; Pru and her beasts, the illustrations, and the collection of big words and their meanings. It's the perfect bedtime story for children of any age especially read aloud with creative voices.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun little story. The UnderSlumberBumbleBeasts are made up of the stuff that kids throw under their beds when they "clean" their rooms 🤣

The illustrations are fun and this would be a perfect, easy to read, bedtime story for those with an interesting sense of humor. I highly enjoyed it as a mother.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @zoje.stage_author @badhandbooks @otrpr for the #gifted book.

UNDERSLUMBERBUMBLEBEAST was just featured in the Associated Press's gift guide for young readers.

UNDERSLUMBERBUMBLEBEAST is a fun, whimsical, and imaginative story that readers of all ages will enjoy. The illustrations on every page bring the story to life. I loved the glossary of big words at the end of the book. UNDERSLUMBERBUMBLEBEAST is the perfect bedtime story.

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

What else can be said about another masterpiece? In a way I feel privileged, to have been able to read two new Stage books in the same year. Soon as I hear the news for your next one, that pre-order button will be broken.

[LibraryMelancholia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute little book and I would love to see it adapted into a movie. It's the favorite book of our main character in Baby Teeth, Hanna. I love Baby Teeth and the sequel Dear Hanna. When Over The River PR approached me about My Underslumberbumblebeast, I of course was super excited to read an ARC and take part in my first virtual tour for a book. Thank you Rachel at OTRPR and Bad Hand Books for the free book.

If you haven't read Baby Teeth, what are you waiting for? It's one of my favorite books. Plus, there's now a whole world around the book, with a sequel and now a cute kids book with adorable if not a little creepy illustrations.

[deannaturnsthepage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness!! I absolutely loved this!! My 9yo son and I read this today and it was just such a sweet & fun story. It’s about a girl named Pru, whose idea of cleaning her room is shoving things under her bed and in her closet. She’d always wondered if in doing so would create a habitat in which her under the bed things could grow into wonderful creatures. She diligently checks under the bed each night but nothing. Then one night she hears noises and sure enough is pleasantly met with an UnderSlumberBumbleBeast! More clutter creates more creatures and soon she has no more room left. She’ll need to figure out a solution before she’s forced to throw it all out.
Pru, is also a lover of words and has a glossary at the back to define some of her favorite words that are in bold throughout the story.
This story was both fun and educational. A must have for anyone with children.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I missed the initial surge of excitement around Zoje Stage's bestselling debut novel Baby Teeth, but was more than happy to take on the sequel, Dear Hanna, for the day job. In the latter novel, Hanna has grown up and gotten married to an older man with a teenage daughter. This pleases her: she doesn't have any interest in having kids herself, so she's glad to have found a mostly loving, supportive husband who's on the same page as she is. An unexpected pregnancy, however, sets off a chain reaction of events that could have Hanna reverting to her old psychopathic ways.

I came out of that book with a huge amount of sympathy for Hanna, and an absolute loathing of her mother. But it also made me very much want to read more of Ms Stage's work, especially this children's book referenced in its pages. My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast is a book much loved by young Hanna and her little brother Goose, to the point where they made little UnderSlumberBumbleBeasts of their own. Now Ms Stage has partnered with illustrator J E Larson to bring that tome from fiction to reality.

My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast is the tale of Pru, an inventive young girl who doesn't like to clean her room. When her Mumbley insists that she cleans up regardless, Pru shoves a bunch of stuff under her bed, little knowing what will result. For the noises that she's been hearing at night from below her aren't just from the house settling, as Mumbley and Papier (her very cute names for her parents) insist. She'll soon find out that something actually is living under her bed, something for which she's very much responsible.

As this is a children's book, it is not, I repeat, not a scary novel like the rest of Ms Stage's fiction has been so far. It's actually a very cute, offbeat chapter book that's appropriate for kids, tho it still does convey a frisson of suspense from Pru peering into dark spaces for the things that go bump in the night. It's still wholly age-appropriate, especially with the glossary of potentially tricky words included in the back for younger readers by the word-loving and -collecting Pru.

The illustrations do tend more Charles Addams and Edward Gorey than the average picture book does. The cover telegraphs this clearly tho, so there shouldn't be any surprises for the reader unaware of the book's origins. If anything, it's fans of Ms Stage who might be surprised at how mild the contents are. While Pru does start the book by complaining about her mother, it's clear that Mumbley and Papier are good parents and human beings -- little wonder that Hanna loved this book so much. It's also very easy to see how this book inspired Hanna to make her own UnderSlumberBumbleBeast, even tho that would eventually lead to tragedy.

While this is a fascinating work that fleshes out the Hanna Universe, it's also a solid piece of entertainment that can be enjoyed independently of its older counterparts. It's also a delightfully sneaky way to get kids who love this -- and there will be many, I'm sure! -- to graduate to reading its author's adult novels when the time is right.

My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast by Zoje Stage & J E Larson was published December 3 2024 by Bad Hand Booka and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!

This review originally appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.

[Michael Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast by Zoje Stage is a wonderful, magical romp under the bed of a very imaginative young girl named Prudencia. I found the book to be a delightfully whimsical tale, told with wit and inventiveness.

We meet protagonist Prudencia, or Pru as she likes to be called, amid a request, not request, from her mother to clean her room. What follows In My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast, is Pru’s discovery that all the miscellaneous bits and bobs, toys, dust motes, and strings has made an unruly and magical forest beneath her bed inhabited by one Mr. Lollypop Hand and a whole community of creatures that are living amalgams of the various pieces of detritus.

I loved the depiction of Pro and her mother’s relationship in My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast — it reminded me of many interactions my wife and I have had with our daughter. And yes, my daughter’s room unfortunately resembles Pru’s — and the underneath of her bed is just as daunting.
This dynamic will ring true for any parent that has tried to get their child to clean their room, and has scratched their head at the messes they can create and dream up.

The art in the book is fantastic, delightfully weird, and creepy in a way that seemed almost cuddly. It helped draw me into the imaginative world of Prudencia, reminding me of Tim Burton’s aesthetic, and invoking a fairy tale nostalgia.

Other highlights include the glossary at the end of the book (I love the sneaky vocabulary building!), the slightly scary good intentioned experiment by Pru that almost backfires in the middle of the book, and the themes of problem solving, caring, and imagination.

Parents — especially those with imaginative and messy children — will find this book an excellent book to read aloud, with plenty to discuss afterward. Older children will enjoy reading the book solo and poring over the inventive pictures. Adults will enjoy the book as a delightful look back to an easier time when you can make whole worlds and stories from bits of string, buttons, and gum.
My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast is a delightfully quirky and entertaining read for kids of all ages.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
👻 ever had an imaginary friend
🦷 loved the book, Baby Teeth
🖼️ enjoy creative artwork in books
💭 were told you had an overactive imagination as a kid

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Nine-year-old Pru has many hobbies: inventing things, collecting stuff, and learning new and interesting words. But her newest passion is discovering the source of the weird sounds she hears at night—coming from beneath her bed.
 
Ever since she was very little, Pru suspected there might be a special kind of creature making a home in her room. But because UnderSlumberBumbleBeasts only come out in the dark, she had never seen one.
 
That all changes one day after Pru's mom asks her to clean her room—an ordinary request that sets off an extraordinary chain of events. And Pru's life will never be the same.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was such a fun story! I haven’t read Baby Teeth yet, but knowing that this short story was created because of another story is always so fun to me! This is a super cute children’s story (or what an adult could consider a novella) about a little girl with (more likely than not) an overactive imagination! My favorite part was the pictures that really helped these little creatures come to life! It reminded me a tad of Coraline when she’s in the Other Mother’s world. Overall, a great story for both kids and adults alike!

[M. K. French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nine-year-old Pru is interested in many things, and right now she wants to find the source of the strange noises under her bed. UnderSlumberBumbleBeasts only come out in the dark, she had never seen one. When her mother asks her to clean her room, Pru's life changes.

This book is mentioned in Zoje Stage's books Baby Teeth and Dear Hanna. Don't worry if you haven't read those psychological thrillers; because the other books referenced Hanna's favorite childhood book, Zoje Stage decided to write that book. This is a children's book, geared for middle elementary school grades. Pru is nine and fond of big words, so they're bolded and a helpful glossary is in the back of the book.

The UnderSlumberBumbleBeast is a creature made from garbage and broken bits of toys, exactly the kind of things that collect under a nine-year-old's bed. She loves the idea of creating more haphazard creatures, but it gets out of hand and she has to be creative to keep them safe. I liked how resourceful she was, and able to care for the creatures that didn't look like ordinary animals or the fuzzy, soft things that many people like to cuddle. Pru was able to think ahead and empathize with them, which many kids her age will understand. It's a cute story for children. (And has nothing to do with the psychological thrillers in the author's repertoire!)

[Sheila's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝗭𝗼𝗷𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗮,𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝘆 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮'𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗱𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆.

𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱'𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼.

As parents, we all know what can accumulate under our kids' beds, and at times, it can be daunting!
In this wonderfully delightful book, the under slumber beast is made up of all the treasures thrown under the bed in haste during clean-up time.

The illustrations are fun and interesting and are sure to capture the hearts and minds of our young ones.

There is also a 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 glossary at the end of the book. While reading the story, each time you see a word in 𝗕𝗢𝗟𝗗, you can go to the glossary to look up its meaning and pronunciation.

This book is charming and a creative twist on the monster under the bed. It is reminiscent of a time when kids would make up imaginative stories using bits and bobs they found laying around their room.

[Bethany Mock (bethanyburiedinbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @otrpr @badhandbooks @zoje.stage_author #partner for the gifted copy of this book!

I love the idea of where this book came from! Zoje is an author of thriller books and in Baby Teeth, there is a father character that would read his daughters favorite book, The Underslumberbumblebeast. When people asked her if it was a real book…she decided to make it so!

This book was simply fun and sweet with the most adorable character named Pru. Pru is like any other child who likes to stick things under her bed. One night, she looks under her bed and finds…The Underslumberbumblebeast which is a mash up of old toys, parts and pieces. Pru has really good intentions and a fantastic imagination which leads her to try and make the world under her bed even better! Things don’t go as planned but don’t fret…Pru has a plan! I loved this sweet story so much! This really does make it so that “under the bed” doesn’t have to be a scary thought! It can be adventurous, neat and full of possibilities! The illustrations were also perfectly executed and added awesome visuals that enhanced the story! I am most excited to share this story with my nephews!

[Chelsea (gofetchabook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I would have loved as a child. It takes a place (under the bed) that could be a scary place for children and turns it into something whimsical. I loved the concept of how the little critters came to be, and Pru's great lengths to protect them at all costs from being found by her parents.

The illustrations in this book were perfection and completely brought everything to life.

This is a great one for kids who are interested in potentially creepy things, but overall isn't scary.

[Zoje Stage · Rating 5 out of 5]

My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast is written as a stand-alone story for young readers...but I think its appeal is ageless. I hope that kids appreciate Pru's curious and adventurous nature - and her creative way of coming to terms with the weird sounds she hears at night. And adult fans of Baby Teeth and Dear Hanna finally get to see this "book within a book." Really, it's for readers of any age who enjoy the whimsical and adorably ghoulish.

[Linda Russo]

ages 7-10

[Anna Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My underslumber bumble beasts. This book is a whimsical fun tale. It’s got me looking everywhere for my underslumber bumble beasts

[Sarah W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the imagination and creativity that Pru had. While most children are afraid of what is under the bed, she could not wait to catch a glimpse of what it might be. I remember cleaning my room and stopping to play with something I had seen/played with in a long time. This book gave me those nostalgic feels. I loved the illustrations that went along with the story and seeing the underslumperbumblebeast come to life. Pru’s compassion for her new friends and her problem-solving is something I think many children would relate to.

Thank you @zoje.stage_author @badhandbooks @otrpr for the #gifted copy.