It bothered me that the boy's eyeglasses were as big as his head and his image got lost in the rest of the dark, dark images. Just didn't like it. ( )

Fred does not want to go to bed, he wants to stay up and play with Ted. Though forced to lay down his head with Ted, Fred does have an imaginative adventure searching under his bed. Joe Fenton's first picture book is a treat to read and share with your young one. The pared down rhyming text is perfect for the toddler set (they illicit OOooo's and giggles from my little boy), as are the bold, detailed, and fun illustrations. ( )

Summary: In this rhyming story, Fred is sent to bed but is unable to sleep. He is convinced that he hears something, and that it's coming from under his bed. He imagines all sorts of monsters it could be, and is afraid it might even eat up the whole bed! Finally he gets up the nerve to look under his bed and see what it is, but all he finds is his teddy bear, Ted. Nothing scary at all.
Genre Critique: This is an example of realistic fiction, because the idea of thinking there is a monster under one's bed due to having heard strange sounds is one that most every kid can relate to. The unrealistic part of the story is all clearly just what he builds up in his imagination, so the plot, setting, and characters all remain believable.
Plot: This story uses the typical plot line of rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, which makes it seem more realistic and as though the events are really taking place.
Media: Watercolor and Markers ( )

This is a cute children’s book about what is “under the bed?” The illustrations are fun and very interesting to look at because of the minimum use of color. The story is short and is written on each page in English and Spanish. Both the story and the art were created by Joe Fenton, so they work well together. I liked the story and plan on reading it to my granddaughter if she is ever scared of “What’s Under the Bed!” ( )

This book has lovely illustrations, mostly in black and white accented with a few colours, which will appeal to young children as will the topic which many would be able to relate to. The main character is small, with large glasses which obscure his face somewhat, and he is often lost in the illustrations, which may have been the author's intention. The rhymes will appeal to young readers, as will the character's vivid imagination about what might be under the bed. ( )