MY MONSTER AND ME

A child learns to manage the monster that has overwhelmed them.

Narrating in first person, a small, brown child introduces readers to their monster: a large, yellow, furry creature with horns and a wide-eyed smile. The monster has always been there—always big and loud. The monster hides when family members come around, so the child can’t get help getting rid of it. The monster gets “bossier,” telling the child what to wear and preventing them from going outside to play with friends. One day, the monster is waiting for the child after school, and the child can’t take it anymore. Telling Gran all about the monster…suddenly makes the monster shrink. After that, the monster isn’t so scary anymore. British cooking personality Hussain personalizes this tale with a note about her own panic disorder, which inspired her to write this story to support children in naming and understanding “worries, anxiety and panic.” The direct-address narration and Bailey’s illustrations work together remarkably well to provide a poignant tool to do just that. With sweet pictures that show how things can change, this accessible tale will empower children to identify and speak about their worries, taking control away from their “monsters” and letting them enjoying their lives. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 78% of actual size.)

Charming and effective.