Margarash

K-Gr 2—Collin's favorite thing in the whole world is coins. His most treasured one is a magic coin that can turn "from a silver quarter into a golden dollar." While searching his house from top to bottom looking for more coins, he is pulled into the world under his couch cushions by the mysterious Margarash. Margarash is obsessed with the coins that fall into the couch cushions and desperately wants Collin to use his coin trick to turn them all into gold. When Collin refuses, Margarash puts him in a cage until he complies. While Collin is sad and angry at Margarash, and vice versa, they eventually start to bond and realize that material things aren't important if you don't have anyone to share them with. Riddle has crafted two well-drawn characters who play off each other in a delightful way. There are effective page turns throughout, elevating this title from more than your typical "confronting the monster in your closet" story. Miller's illustrations capture the eerie openness of Margarash's world. The tale does lag in the middle, yet readers will be enchanted by the budding friendship between boy and monster.