Tickle Monster

PreS—This French import takes on the familiar theme of overcoming fears. On the first page, readers are introduced to Tickle Monster, a mildly threatening creature made up of brightly colored shapes set against a solid black background. The text begins with the announcement "Hey Tickle Monster! You don't scare me!" The unseen child narrator goes on to tickle each part of the monster, and the scary features are turned into harmless objects. The monster's two yellow horns join together to form a moon, and the monster can no longer poke the child. When the monster's arms are tickled, they transform into trees and the monster can no longer catch the child. This continues until Tickle Monster is gone and only a peaceful night scene remains. At last, the child can go to sleep. The bold white text stands out against the black backdrop. This book has strong visual appeal with illustrations that are simple yet eye-catching. This is an effective tale about independently and creatively overcoming a fear.