View source for Molly and the Night Monster by Chris Wormell

{{infobox2
|title=Molly and the Night Monster
|author=Chris Wormell
|reviewer=Keith Dudhnath
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=A simple but high quality tale of night-time worries. Kids will love seeing how Molly deals with her fears and will enjoy acting it out themselves. Chris Wormell's illustrations are a real treat too. Recommended.
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-1862301856
|pages=32
|publisher=Red Fox Picture Books
|date=August 2010
|aznuk=1862301859
|aznus=1862301859
|cover=1862301859
|website=http://www.chriswormell.com
}}

Molly is in bed, but then she hears a creak on the stair. Could it be an elephant or a rhino coming to get her? Might it even be a night monster? Luckily, Molly is well-armed with her monster catcher, so should be alright, as the door sloooowly inches open...

I really enjoyed ''Molly and the Night Monster''. It's a simple tale of night-time worries, with the expected cuddle from mummy as the denouement, but it all clicks together really well. Molly's imagination runs wild with all the things it could be, and although you see why she's scared of them, it's never inappropriately scary. Yes, the tension builds as the footsteps come up the stairs, but even the youngest book fans won't feel a moment's worry.

Chris Wormell's gorgeous illustrations help set the tone perfectly. The blue and white drawings throughout feel just like a shadowy bedroom. Humans, animals and monsters alike are drawn in a realistic style, with just the right amount of cuteness to feel welcoming and engaging. They're a joy to pore over.

''Molly and the Night Monster'' will certainly strike a chord with any youngster having their own nightmares. They'll enjoy seeing that everything works out alright, and will also have fun acting out their own monster catcher, and then cuddle at the end. It's such an engaging and high quality story that even if they're more than happy to snore their heads off from sundown to sunrise, they'll still find plenty to enjoy. The simple plot and relaxed pace make it best suited for the very young, but those who are edging towards reading for themselves will still enjoy it because it's such a fine book. Warmly recommended.

My thanks to the publishers for sending it to Bookbag.

Our [[Top Ten Picture Books For Overcoming Bedtime Woes]] has lots of similar super books. [[Bedtime Without Arthur by Jessica Meserve]] is also well-worth a look. There's no direct connection with the plot, but we adored [[One Smart Fish by Chris Wormell]] so do please check it out.  For more from Wormell, you might enjoy [[Dinosaurium (Welcome to the Museum) by Lily Murray and Chris Wormell|Dinosaurium (Welcome to the Museum)]]

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