THE TICKLE MONSTER IS COMING!

Readers/listeners get fair warning inside and on the back cover of this giggle-inducing rhyming bedtime story to be ever-vigilant for the dreaded Tickle Monster who sees and knows all. Beware: It can sneak up on unprotected, unsuspecting victims at any time, and there’s no use shouting. The monster’s appearance, occurring even after the unwary have drunk a relaxing glass of warm milk, might just lead to dire consequences. (Okay, the milk could come out of your nose; don’t ask about pants wetting.) Barneda’s acrylic-and-colored-pencil illustrations are rollicking and nonthreatening. While the rhythms are sometimes clunky, the text moves along swiftly, and there’s just enough tame scariness here to thrill very little ones as they lie in wait for tickle monsters to pounce on them in their own bedrooms. (Picture book. 2-5)