Is There a Monster in My Closet?

PreS-Gr 2—A lackluster version of Johannah Gilman Paiva's picture book (Flowerpot, 2014), this adaptation suffers from a lack of animation. The accompanying music is light and jaunty, but fails to build the tension that would have better suited for a story about the discovery of monsters in a small boy's room. (The creatures are in full view of the audience, but are somehow missed by young Benjamin.) The only sound effect is the chirping of crickets to establish that it is night. It's unfortunate that the bumps that Benjamin hears to announce the appearance of the monsters aren't audible. The idea of frightened monsters that are comforted by humans is unoriginal, and this story doesn't provide a new twist, which makes the art more disappointing. It's hard not to compare this to the work of Mercer Mayer, who is one of many authors who has created much more imaginatively drawn creatures that might be a bit scary when first introduced. The resolution is quick and easy: the boy's dogs are friendly and pose no threat to the monsters. Everyone smiles, and Benjamin and his pooch, Rex, snuggle into bed, while the monsters tuck themselves under the bed and in the closet and everyone goes to sleep. This production presents a mild monster story that won't scare young children, and is not likely to inspire them either.—Constance Dickerson, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, OH