A unique monster-under-the-bed story with the perfect balance of giggles and shivers, this picture book relies on the power of humour over fear, appeals to a child's love for creatures both alarming and absurd, and glorifies the scope of a child's imagination. One night, when Ethan checks under his bed for his monster, Gabe, he finds a note from him instead: "Gone fishing. Back in a week". Ethan knows that without Gabe's familiar nightly scares he doesn't stand a chance of getting to sleep, so Ethan interviews potential substitutes to see if they have got the right equipment for the job -- pointy teeth, sharp claws, and a long tail -- but none of them proves scary enough for Ethan. When Gabe returns sooner than expected from his fishing trip, Ethan is thrilled. It turns out that Gabe didn't enjoy fishing because the fish scared too easily. Gabe's ooze is perfect, and Ethan is soon sleeping soundly. Scholastic Book Club Selection Wall Street Journal Best Seller List, for two weeks in October 2016 Winner of 6 state awards: Alabama Camellia Award (2010-2011), Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award (2011), California Young Readers Medal (2011-12), Georgia Picture Storybook Award (2011-12), Nevada Young Reader Award (2011-12), Virginia Reader's Choice Primary Award (2012-13) Included on 5 other state award lists: Mississippi Magnolia Children's Choice Award list (2012-13), Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (2011-12), South Dakota Prairie Bud Award list (2011-12), Washington Children's Choice Book Award list (2010-2011), Wyoming Buckaroo Award list (2011-12) Additionally, included on these regional awards lists: Connecticut Charter Oak Children's Book Award list (2011-12), Iowa Regional Goldfinch Award Winner (2009-10) Storytelling World Award Honor Book 2010.

 

 

This book is part of a book series called I Need my Monster .

This book has been graded for interest at 5-7 years.

There are 32 pages in this book.

This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+).

This book was published in 2023 by Flashlight Press .

Howard McWilliam is the illustrator of I NEED MY MONSTER, by Amanda Noll, and WHEN A DRAGON MOVES IN, by Jodi Moore. Howard left his career as a U. K. magazine editor and journalist in 2005 to concentrate on his growing career as a cartoonist and illustrator. He has won various awards and competitions for his work and has been published in a wide range of U. K. magazines and newspapers, including THE DAILY TELEGRAPH and THE WEEK. He lives in Kingston Upon Thames, England, with his wife, Rebecca.