Under-the-Bed Fred

Leo is afraid of the monster under his bed. When Leo wants to go to bed or get out of bed, he has to jump across the room so he won’t be caught by his ankles by this monster. But one night, Leo really has to go to the bathroom and finally decides to ask the monster to let him go. Surprisingly, the monster is fine with that. Soon the two are talking and become friends. After all, little boys aren’t the only ones who are afraid; sometimes monsters are, too. As their friendship grows, Leo names his monster Fred. When a mean boy comes to visit and is busy destroying Leo’s stuff, Fred takes care of the problem.

The monster under the bed is such a familiar trope that it is hard to believe there is room for another such book, but author Linda Bailey has come up with a really fresh take. Her writing is crisp, and the story is plenty of fun. Illustrator Colin Jack just adds to the fun with his bright, cartoonish illustrations. This early reader will be a big hit with youngsters from about five to seven or eight.