The Underbed
PreSchool-Grade 1-- Tucker is afraid of the Underbed, a creature with orange, glow-in-the-dark eyes and octopus arms that grab the legs of anyone standing close to the bed. "It sounds like the one that lived under my bed when I was little," says his mother gently and the two set about getting rid of it. She gets the camping flashlight and together they tiptoe to the bed, count to three, throw back the covers and flash the light, banishing the worrisome creature and putting Tucker's fears to rest. Text and illustrations work together beautifully to tell this reassuring story of a child's bedtime anxiety. The paintings are realistic with a skillful use of color, particularly blues and reds, and there is clear attention to detail. The bond between mother and son is evident throughout. The final illustration of Tucker suspended in midair as he jumps onto the middle of his bed, by choice rather than to avoid the grabbing tentacles, is a gem--he's clad in Superman pajamas. A super choice to help ease away a youngster's fear of the dark.- Marie Orlando, Youth Services Coordinator, Suffolk Cooperative Library SystemCopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.