The Boy Under The Bed [Hardcover]

Preston McClear (Author), Nicholas Dollak (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Did you ever wonder what little monsters are afraid of? Boys,of course. Little monster Giles has a boy under his bed.Mom and Dad say there are no such things as boys,but Giles knows better.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Preston McClear's children's story about a baby monster with an awful, terrible, boy under his bed is an instant classic to be cherished by children and adults. McClear's story is a clever reversal in which monsters are ordinary and believe boys are make believe creatures who only exist in fairy tales.

From the Inside Flap

Once upon a time, in a bedroom not unlike yours and mine, full of knick knacks, brick bracks & other snacks, there lived a monster named Giles with a boy under his bed.... And so begins the highly imaginative story, with dazzling illustrations by Nicholas Dollak, of baby monster Giles and the boy who visits his bedroom nightly. At first he is frightened. He's heard that boys lie so they can make monster pie! When the boy confesses to only being lost, Giles befriends him and helps him find the way back home.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 52 pages
• Publisher: Malibu Books for Children (February 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929084021
• ISBN-13: 978-1929084029
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,826,067 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 ½ * The Monster Who Was Afraid of Boys!, January 9, 2004

By 

M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Boy Under The Bed (Hardcover)

A colorful book that doesn't quite reach its potential, "The Boy Under the Bed" is about a young monster, Giles, with nighttime fears that a BOY may be hiding under his bed! When he calls his big-headed (literally), tusked parents into his room, the boy disappears. (The parents later comfort/admonish their son by saying "...THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS AS BOYS.") But Giles knows better:

"But once the lights are turned out that mischievous boy is at it again, whooping, hollering, and laughing. Jumping from the dresser to the floor and thumping against the door. Wearing a sheet and saying "BOO TO YOU!!!"

Preston McClear and Nicholas Dollak produce playful, colorful books: There's a purposeful discontinuity between the illustrations (a poster on the monster's bedroom door changes 3 times in 3 successive pages) and the effect is like the "I Spy" books or "Where's Waldo.' The monsters are-let's face it-refreshingly ugly, unlike the shaggy but adorable creatures of Maurice Sendak. Still, the first section of the book lacks sufficient imagination, the writing is sometimes a bit forced, and most of the illustrations are from one perspective only-it's a little flat.

The second "act" is much better, as Giles breaks out of his bedroom to courageously help the boy find his way back home. And what a home it is! After journeying through "door #10" they climb a spiral staircase to a `mighty tree-house perched in the skies." It's a remarkable illustration.... row upon row of beds in a Central Park like setting; it's a multi-treed tree house! Boys appear from everywhere, climbing and swinging like monkeys and quite easily forming an easy friendship with the formerly scary boy: "Three cheers for my friend the monster!" Freed from the confines of Gile's bedroom, Nicholas Dollak produces beautiful, cinematic images of the boys and monster romping about the vast tree house.

I would have liked to see more of this imaginative style in the beginning of the book. Still, the subtle message about facing your fears and finding similarities is a helpful one, and the tree house scenes and peaceful ending make it a satisfying experience. (52 pages of text and illustrations on very high quality paper; Malibu again sets a standard for quality production.) Look for McClear and Dollak's stunning "The Sailor and the Sea Witch" and the very funny "Frannie and Pickles" as well!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Monster Humor!, June 17, 2003

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Boy Under The Bed (Hardcover)

Children live in a world of magic in which what they can imagine becomes real. As a result, most children are afraid of imaginary monsters in their rooms as some point. This story builds on that point to help children seen that this view may be a little foolish.

Instead of a child being afraid of monsters, this is a book about a little monster named Giles who's afraid of boys! And he has good reason to be . . . because when the clock strikes ten a boy dressed as in Native American headdress appears under the bed and dances all about. The monster parents are called, and provide the customary parental advice, "Boys don't exist today." The hijinks continue every night until dawn, when the boy disappears under the bed again. When Giles sings a song of prayer one night, the boy talks to him. Threatened with more prayers, the boy admits he needs help. "I've lost my way. Won't you please let me stay?" Giles learns that the boy is afraid of monsters, too! Giles helps the boy find his way home again and enjoys playing with the boy and his friends. Now, nights are a pleasure for both! So when a monster comes out from under the boy's bed, it's because they want to be together.

As interesting as the story is, the illustrations are the strongest part of this book. The colors are bright and the details are a little rough like a child might put into her or his drawings and watercolors. There are little surprises that provide delight. For example, Giles looks just like a little boy sleeping in his room on page two. Then you get a different feeling when he turns around on page 4. His "monster" exterior is softened by having him wear glasses! The action sequences by the boy reminded me of Where the Wild Things Are. In addition, there are subtle alterations in the same scene from illustration to illustration. Children can seek the changes . . . a childhood favorite in our household.

Alas, I don't have any young children to read this book to. I hope you do!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Most Hilarious Hook For Children and Adults, May 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Boy Under The Bed (Hardcover)

A most hilarious hook for children and adults. Kids will have a great time reading and looking for hidden treasures on every page.

In this monster world, boy's live under the monster boys' beds. Giles always shouts when he sees the boy and his parents come rushing in, only to see nothing. But when Giles finds out that the boy can't find his way home when he tells him to leave, Giles and the boy find another world full of boys like him. They become friends after all.

I thought this was an exceptional book of a great concept by Preston McClear, and awesome drawings by Nicholas Dollak. This team of writer and illustrator have just made their mark in the children's world of books.

I suggest this book for all children to read. I guarantee that they will be picking it up again and again to look for more hidden things in the pages! Great job guys!

By Lisa, BookReviewCafe.com