A Monstrous Bedtime
by Kerilynn Wilson; illus. by the author
Preschool    Greenwillow    32 pp.
8/25    9780063335615    $19.99

A child has a simple bedtime routine with their caregivers: “A cup of water, a fan whirring gently, a story, and a song.” When it doesn’t work for the friendly, not-sleepy, octopus-like monster under the bed, the human child takes matters into their own hands. The basic steps stay the same, while the child’s over-the-top execution shown in the illustrations is entertaining, if not exactly soothing: the cup of water is more like a flood, and so many fans are set up to whir that they almost blow away the monster and the pet cat. The child’s and monster’s deadpan assessments in speech bubbles of why the steps didn’t work (“Maybe it wasn’t gentle enough?”) add to the sweet humor. A full-scale production of the routine’s finale (a song) tuckers the child out, and their monster buddy tries the steps “one more time,” finally successful in a now comfortingly messy room. Wilson’s (One Foggy Christmas Eve, rev. 11/24) digitally colored pen-and-ink illustrations in relaxing blues and glowing yellows and pinks are decorated with swirls of music and other cheerful details to discover with each re-read. A pitch-perfect addition to any little monster’s nightly routine.

From the September/October 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.