The Patterson Puppies and the Midnight Monster Party

PreS-Gr 2 Petra is afraid of the dark and convinced that a lurking monster will eat her and the rest of her family. While her parents placate her, her siblings devise a plan. They bake cookies, set the table, and leave a friendly note for any monster that might come by. What they discover that night is sufficient to soothe the puppy, and she can sleep. Readers can determine for themselves whether or not a monster was ever really in the house, but the end result is clearPetra is no longer scared. While the support and assistance of her siblings cannot be undervalued, Petra herself takes the first brave step toward confronting her monster. Although her distress is clearly portrayed through the acrylic illustrations, the book is neither spooky nor scary. White space is replaced by black, with the colorful, pajama-clad puppies investigating darkened rooms and midnight corners against the inky backdrop. While the situation is specific to a fear of the dark, this book is suitable for children who need encouragement in the face of any fear."Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.