First Day. I Need My Monster

     I've decided to read at least a picture book a day for the next year.  I read every night to my 4 year old son and I have found myself in the middle of a new love affair with picture books.  I think about them long after the lights are turned off.  It has made me think that my dream of writing for children needs a kick in the butt.  That kick comes in the form of this blog.
     I will not only read but write about each book as a way of immersing myself in the world of children's literature.  There will be one picture book added each day, and in those days when I also finish a YA Book, I'll include that one too.
     So here it goes! Best place to start will be with my son's current favorite book:

I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll.

Illustrated by Howard McWilliam.

Year: 2009

     This beautifully written and illustrated book puts on a hilarious twist to the idea of monsters hiding under the bed. Ethan is a boy who discovers that his monster, Gabe, has gone on vacation.  He spends the night dealing with substitute monsters.

     I love the sense of humor. The dialogue flows with ease and you can really "hear" the different voices and tones of its characters.

     It is a fantastic read aloud!  I have so much fun creating all the voices for the different monsters that I'm finding myself grabbing the book even before Santiago asks.