FICTION

I Will Fight Monsters for You

illus. by Lyona. 32p. Albert Whitman. Mar. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780807590560.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—Martina is scared of the monsters in the night. The sweet girl is convinced an upside-down city populated by monsters exists beneath her bedroom floor. Every night, she must make sure she remains completely under the safety of her blankets so she doesn't get pulled into the monster's world. When her father assures her, "I will fight MONSTERS for you," she manages to fall asleep. That night, Martina dreams of a furry, pink monster named Anitram, who lives a life that mirrors her own. Anitram is afraid of humans and her father promises to fight her fears for her. As they sleep, a hole magically opens between the two upside-down worlds. Martina and Anitram let their arms slip over the edge of the bed, and they join hands. With this act of friendship, the girl and the little monster overcome their fear of the unknown and discover how much they have in common. The gentle cartoon illustrations feature dark outlines and a soft blue and pink bedtime palette. Martina, in her striped pajamas and pigtails, is a darling character, and Anitram is cute and cuddly.
VERDICT Pair this debut picture book with Josh Schneider's equally imaginative Bedtime Monsters (Clarion, 2013).

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