Review - This Book Is Not a Bedtime Story

This Book Is Not a Bedtime Story
by Eoin McLaughlin
illustrated by Rob Starling
Date: 2020
Publisher: Pavilion Children's
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Renowned author Eoin McLaughlin and award-nominated illustrator Rob Starling join forces to create a hilarious, not-so-spooky tale.

This book is NOT a bedtime story.
It’s scary, strange and rather gory.
Bedtime stories make you sleepy.
This book won’t.
It’s much too CREEPY.

Except it isn’t...

This book is told by a group of monsters who think they’re very scary, but in fact they’re not – they’re cute and cuddly. They try their hardest to frighten – in a haunted house, creepy wood, ghostly ship and darkest dark, but each time they fail! The problem is, these monsters aren’t at all scary, they’re a bit silly and a bit cuddly. They share the insecurities and worries of us humans and all they want is a good night’s sleep.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a book narrated by a monster from under the bed who thinks he's pretty scary stuff. But he's not. None of the monsters are.

Some of the text rhymes. Some doesn't. Some of the illustrations are amusing. Some of them are just kind of boring.

I don't think I would read this as a bedtime story simply because it introduces the idea of monsters under the bed. Even though they're not scary ones, that's still a disconcerting thought (especially if that hasn't been an issue up to this point).

Overall, this is pretty forgettable.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.43 out of 5