• Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2020 June #1
  *Starred Review* A beautiful friendship gets off to a rocky start when a boy is accidentally swallowed by the mild-mannered monster beneath his bed. Taking a seat with her audience, the author invites readers to supply names for the characters themselves and admits that she, too, has no idea what's coming. A later comment that "stories have a way of getting carried away, don't they?" well and truly sums up what happens next, as by the time the boy is coughed up a few hours later, he's shrunk to the size of a hamster. Among other adventures, he runs into what his frazzled companion dubs his little "sister-monster" on a wee-hours expedition down to the kitchen for snacks, is chucked into the toilet, and delightedly gets to munch on a cookie that is, to him, the size of a sled. Turquoise highlights both illuminate and visually bind the well-leaded text and Syed's frequent line drawings. The monster resembles an unfrightening blend of Wild Thing and plush teddy, and though the tale takes a shivery twist with the revelation that reality is actually based on the dreams of monsters, all ends in happy giggles. By morning, he's back to original size and, it turns out, that toilet had just been cleaned. Which is still gross, but not so much, right? Grades 1-3. Copyright 2020 Booklist Reviews.

Hannah Barnaby has worked as a children’s book editor, a bookseller, and a teacher of writing for children and young adults. She holds an MA in children’s literature from Simmons College and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College. Her first novel, Wonder Show, was a William C. Morris nominee. Hannah lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with her family.

Anoosha Syed is a Pakistani-Canadian illustrator based in Toronto. She has a passion for creating cute characters with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, and has illustrated many best-loved picture books, including Bug Girl, I Am Perfectly Designed and Bilal Cooks Daal. Anoosha also has worked as a freelance character designer, with studios that include Disney JR and Dreamworks TV.