The Boy Under The Bed

By Preston McClear

Book Overview

Baby monster Giles is frightened when he finds a boy under his bed. When the boy confesses to only being lost, Giles befriends him and helps him find the way home. McClear's imaginative text and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1929084021
• ISBN13: 9781929084029
• Release Date: February 1998
• Publisher: Malibu Books for Children
• Length: 51 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 11.3" x 8.8"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

A BOY UNDER A MONSTER'S BED! CLEVER IDEA, WONDERFUL STORY

Wow! If there were ten stars, I would give this book that many, if only for the fantastic idea of reversing a familiar situation that most children fear (a monster under the bed) and making it a BOY under a little monster's bed. Clever, Mr. McClear. And this fab author didn't stop at the idea, he wove it into an awesome story that held me spell-bound, as I'm sure it did his many fans of all ages. I grabbed this book right out of my granddaughter's hands because the idea intrigued me so much, and the storyline grabbed me and wouldn't let go until the last word. I highly recommend this book Betty Dravis is the author of THE TOONIES INVADE SILICON VALLEY, a book for kids of all ages that has been endorsed by the Vice Mayor of San Jose, and an adult adventure thriller, MILLENNIUM BABE: THE PROPHECY

Monster Humor!

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!

A Most Hilarious Hook For Children and Adults

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

Will appeal to young girls, boys and monsters everywhere

Giles lives in a bedroom like many other youngsters his age, "...full of knick knacks, brick bracks & other snacks," but he's not exactly like you and me - Giles is a monster. His room, a peaceful place during the day, morphs into a house of horrors when the dark night sky heralds the arrival of the boy under the bed. The boy is frightening as he scurries about, keeping Giles from a decent night's sleep. Mother and Father are no help - those tricky boys are very clever and can make themselves invisible, if the need arises. So Giles, determined to regain some peace, as well as some Z's, decides to take matters into his own hands. He recites a song that brings the boy to tears. The boy wants to leave, but can't find his way home. Climbing under the bed, armed with a flashlight, Giles helps the boy to find his way back. After spending a bit of time together, the boy and Giles realize an important universal truth - no matter what a being looks like on the outside, we are all pretty much the same on the inside. Young monsters and young boys both like to play and they both can feel alone and afraid when they are lost in the dark. Full of colorful and imaginative illustrations, this twist on the popular notion of monsters hiding under the bed will appeal to young girls, boys, and monsters everywhere. --Reviewed by Michelle Smith

Charming story about what a baby monster is afraid of

The Boy Under The Bed is a charming story. My Four year old loves baby monster Giles. He especially loves the illustrations of the great tree house in the sky where all the boys live.I like the way the story teaches children to conquer their fears. The Boy Under The Bed is imaginative and fun. A great bed time story.