About This Book
A parent should reach for this book when a child first develops a fear of the dark or starts imagining monsters under the bed. In this classic story, two children, Mary Ann and Louie, are too scared to go to sleep. Their grandpa doesn't just dismiss their fears. Instead, he tells them a wildly funny and exaggerated tall tale about how he was once scared of the very same things. The story uses humor and empathy to reframe fear, making it feel manageable and even silly. For children ages 3 to 6, this book is a gentle, comforting, and humorous way to acknowledge nighttime anxieties, normalizing the feeling by showing that even Grandpa was once a scared little boy.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with childhood fear of the dark and monsters. The approach is entirely metaphorical and secular. The resolution is hopeful and empowering, as the children's fears are deflated through humor and a shared family experience, not dismissed.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a 4 to 6 year old who is beginning to articulate specific nighttime fears (monsters, shadows, noises). This child likely has a vivid imagination and would respond well to a story that meets them on their imaginative level, using humor as a coping mechanism rather than straightforward logic.
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