The Problem with NOT Being Scared of Monsters by Dan Richards (review)

The problem with not being scared of monsters, our young narrator finds, is that monsters become entirely too comfortable with you, and those monsters can be some pesky pals. Their tendency to pop out of desks, eat homework, and throw food at snacktime makes life complicated for the boy, but when his little brother comes knocking late at night afraid of the bogeymen, the older boy shows the younger that they’re not so scary—and hands down his adoring followers to his little brother. The simple and spare text renders the challenges of monstrous pals understandable, and the boy’s complaints will sound familiar in their groaning tone (“Your favorite pajamas are always in the wash”). The ink illustrations, digitally colored in bold Crayola hues, have a pleasing squared-edge look that’s made less sharp by the speckling of the watercolor paper, and details such as furrowed brows and eye rolls effectively convey the kiddo’s exasperation. Tentacled and fanged monsters made silly with glibness reminiscent of Dr. Seuss’ There’s a Wocket in My Pocket will leave kids smiling after a monster-themed storytime.