A MONSTROUS BEDTIME

An ode to bedtime anxieties and a love letter to the rituals that soothe them.

Having drunk a cup of water, listened to a story, and sung a song, a pale-skinned youngster is snuggled up and ready to snooze when…wait a moment…has anyone checked on the monster under the bed? Unfortunately, the child’s supernatural roommate is wide awake, but our plucky, problem-solving protagonist has a plan. Taking the creature by the tentacle, the child repeats the bedtime routine with the monster in tow—but, self-assured to a fault and with a flair for the dramatic, the empathetic tot inadvertently wreaks havoc at every turn. By the time the monster, an octopodan shadow more hapless than spooky, carries the kid to bed once more, they’ve both left behind a series of comedically chaotic surprises for the parents who’ll rouse them come morning. A departure from more classically monstrous bedtime fare, this narrative removes fear from the equation entirely, offering an innovative, collaborative spin on the relationship between child and monster. Likely to become a part of readers’ own bedtime routines, this nighttime tale feels like a recipe for a sedating witch’s brew. A complement to her comforting text, Wilson’s illustrative use of negative space is reminiscent of Maurice Sendak’s work—one of many homages to another iconic bedtime tale—and her palette and art style evoke a vintage, Sunday-paper comic. The effect is thoroughly charming.

A creature feature worthy of every child’s nightly routine.