MY MEGA MONSTERPEDIA

An alphabetical gallery of (mostly) household monsters to conquer, from the Aysnortuptoys to the troublesome but diminutive Zzeworriez.

Having provided much helpful advice about How to Ward off Wolves (2013), Leblanc and Garrigue turn to another sort of bugaboo—just as hairy and scary, often, but far more diverse in shape and mischief-making abilities. Each of the 50 entries features descriptions of bad behavior, notes on accustomed habitat, and canny notes on how to neutralize, gross out, or otherwise counter the menace or annoyance. The translators are to be commended for rendering the French originals into such vividly descriptive monikers as the shoe-sole–seeking Creepinpoop, toilet-dwelling Drainbane, nose-invading Snotz, and diaper-clad Vampteether. Most of the creatures in the cartoon illustrations are variously eyed, multitentacled figures rendered in garish colors and outlandish shapes. Humans are white when depicted singly in a scene but display a range of skin colors when appearing in groups. A cutaway view of a house showing common trouble spots and a complete visual index of monsters with ratings (“Nice” to “Extremely mean”) cap this eminently useful gathering.

Most needed where monsters, whether small Icky Yickies or the enticing video Obsess-O-Tron, have become worrisome pests.