Customer Reviews

What's Under the Bed?

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As the nights grow longer, this is a fun book for the Halloween season. Every kid feels there is something under the bed, and this book with great black and white illustrations will help a child's imagination. This book may be frightening to read at bedtime, even though it has a happy ending. So, I would read it at an earlier time to see the children's response, but I loved the book.

This is a classic "I think there's a monster under my bed" story.

On the negative side... I think this book would be scary bedtime reading for many little ones. I definitely would not read it to a toddler (2-3) and would be very cautious in sharing it with sensitive children. If your child asks for a nightlight, is afraid of the dark, or gets worried at bedtime I'd either skip this book or be sure to use it very carefully as a way to help kids process their fears.

On the positive side... the illustrations are really interesting and energetic. The book jacket indicates that the illustrator worked for Disney at one point in his career. That got me thinking... the illustrations all convey a really interesting feeling of movement and action, much like a storyboard proposal for an animation sequence. The only aspect of the illustrations which I didn't really appreciate was Fred's enormous eyes/tiny body-- for me, somehow that made it a little harder to process the images on the page.

Overall I think the illustrator is very talented, and look forward to seeing more of his work.

In WHAT'S UNDER THE BED? by Joe Fenton:

We meet young Fred
and his bear, Ted,
just as it is time for bed.

Fred would rather play with Ted,
but it is clearly time for bed.

Fred and Ted go to bed,
but Fred cannot lay down his head-
the sounds he hears fill him with dread.

What is underneath Fred's bed?
Is it green or is it red?

Fred sure hopes that it's been fed,
Because it just might eat his bed...
Oh where, oh where, oh where is Ted?

Fred finally looks beneath his bed,
and there he finds his friend, Ted.

WHAT'S UNDER THE BED? perfectly depicts every young child's twin fears of the dark and of what might be hiding under the bed. As Fred's dramatic imagination starts to take on a life of its own, the monsters in his mind grow and grow, becoming more and more incredible. Finally, Fred screws up his courage and looks under the bed, and finds nothing more than his teddy bear. But in the end, the question becomes who is really scaring whom?

The illustrations in WHAT'S UNDER THE BED? are rich, detailed and wonderful, with an almost animated feel. Mostly black and white with just hints and splashes of color, the light and shadow perfectly mimic a child's fear of the dark, of things hidden in the shadows. The growing characteristics of the monster itself represent Fred's growing fear of the creature as it become more real and more vivid in his mind.

Based on the above, you might think that is book is too scary for a young child; however, let me assure you that my three year old loved it. She made me read it to her three times tonight. The rhyme and rhythm of the story are simple and easy to follow, and help to mitigate any real fear. The beautiful and engaging pictures have just enough of a comic element to quell any true scariness. The author/illustrator has cleverly and brilliantly walked a fine line between exciting and scary.

I believe that WHAT'S UNDER THE BED? will become a classic, something that the children of today will pass on to their children and grandchildren. This creative, sweet, adventurous, funny story will be around for a long, long time.

This little delightfully illustrated story is a precious gem in the pile of otherwise painfully mediocre children books. The graphics are definitely spooky in a Coraline kind of way, but the book provides the rest stops of comic relief in just the right places for the whole experience to be entirely amusing. Never had so much fun been stuffed in such a small package. Loved by the entire family of three whose signature one-liner is now "Oh, I hope he is well fed."

This is a very cute book with a darling main character who is -- of course -- afraid of what is under the bed. As the lights go out and the imagination is let loose, the child begins to think of more and more fantastically monstrous and heinous creatures which may be lurking under his bed. Asking first if it has nails? Maybe a tail? Oh! Maybe TWO tails?!

And just when you think it couldn't get worse, somehow, the child finds it in himself to be brave and look under the bed for confirmation that nothing scary is there.

The concept is good. It is meant to reassure those young ones who have similar fears that it is simply your own imagination which creates such dramatic dangers in the dark. "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself." But for all except the bravest of children, I personally fear that the book will actually give a few kids some ideas as to what they can be afraid of. I imagine that there will be a number of kids out there who will enjoy this book and actually laugh at the creative sort of monsters that have sprouted from the author's mind. But the same images are suggestive for kids who are more sensitive. And I also imagine that it will make a huge difference the approach that a parent takes to presenting and reading this book to their child.

I also find that the very last page is suggestive. Although I think the author intended humor in that a monster may be actually afraid that a child is under his bed, I think it is possible that the page can be interpreted differently -- that is, the monster climbed into the child's bed while he was checking underneath.

It's a shame though. I really enjoyed the illustrations. The book is truly a work of art. It wasn't until I went through a second time and noticed the artist's technique of drawing much of the pages in black & white -- and making the monsters in color -- which gave such a startling effect. I look forward to reading more from this author. But because I am a parent of a scared-y cat little girl, I am particularly sensitive about suggestive images and books.

For parents, it is no secret that a basic fear of kids is something lurking under the bed. This basic fear idea has been used by numerous authors of children's books as well as quite a few authors of adult novels. While the author of an adult novel aims to scare readers, the author of a book for children, especially a picture book, seeks to reassure the child. Few do it as well as author and illustrator Joe Fenton does in his book.

Told through rhyming text the book begins with the opening line "Time for bed, Fred!" Fred would rather stay up with Ted, his stuffed bear, but it is time for bed. Once in bed with Ted, Fred soon hears a noise. Ted falls over to the side and then eventually off the bed While Fred looks over the other edge of the bed.

Fred wonders if there could be something under the bed and his imagination runs colorfully wild. "Could it be green? Or maybe it's red? Does it have a very big head?" He imagines several different possibilities and combinations of the possible creature before discovering it is only Ted who had fallen off the bed earlier.

But then, "Is there something on the ground?"

That thought ends the book. A thought that could be interpreted as funny or as scary depending on the child involved.

Like any children's book, one needs to know the child involved before making a recommendation. The illustrations in this book are the main selling point of the book. They could be interpreted by a sensitive child as a bit scary and some adults may not care for them either.

However, this book with its wonderful illustrations and easy rhyming text should appeal to most children and the adults in their lives. Colorful and well done in all aspects that targets readers ages 4 to 8, it would be a welcome addition to the reading arsenal while providing a light hearted look at a basic childhood fear.


Kevin R. Tipple (copyright) 2008

Joe Fenton uses a simple AB rhyme scheme and spectacular, but somewhat frightening, illustrations to tell the tale of Fred. Fred is not fond of going to bed. After seeing the fruits of his vivid imagination, readers know why. Joe imagines all sorts of scary details about what might be under his bed, only to discover in the end that it's his beloved teddy bear.

The story is quite simple, but the mainly black and white illustrations are filled with vivid, complex images. Many children, especially 3-5 year olds, will find the bulging eyes and hairy monster too hard to take. However, for older children or those who love scary images, this book will be a favorite.

This book is simply adorable. It addresses the night fears of children. You can't help but feel for Fred with his hugh eyes & glasses. My 7 yr old grandson, who still doesn't like the dark, found the book enthralling & asked me to reread it.

The pictures are captivating. We didn't find the book scary & I wouldn't hesitate to read it to a 2 -3 yr old.

This book is based on the classic "is there a monster under my bed?" childhood fear. The story is simple and accessible without being too scary. What really makes the book distinctive, though, are the great illustrations! They are mostly black and white with only minimal splashes of color, but they are so unique, creative, and engaging. As a bonus, the lighthearted twist at the end will make you smile.

I don't know about this one. I kept trying to think of what age group it would be appropriate for. I teach Pre-K and thought, okay, let's try it in varioius age groups to see who does well with it. The younger kids - no teacher wanted to read it as they were afraid the children would then think there was something under their bed. The older kids, it did not keep their interest.