I Need My Monster

Reach for this book when your child is experiencing nighttime anxiety or if they have started to imagine scary things hiding under the bed. Instead of dismissing those fears, this story playfully leans into them by suggesting that every child has a personal monster who is actually quite helpful for keeping them in bed. It reframes the scary monster trope into a humorous, essential part of a nightly routine. Ethan's regular monster, Gabe, goes on vacation, leaving Ethan to interview several substitutes. The substitutes just do not measure up: some are too silly, others are too polite, and none have the perfect jagged claws Ethan needs to fall asleep. This book is a wonderful tool for children aged 5 to 8 who appreciate a bit of edge with their humor. It helps normalize the feeling of being afraid while giving kids a sense of agency and humor over the things that go bump in the night.