It Came from Beneath the Bed!

November 1, 2002
Gr 3-6-Yet another canine member of the Monroe menagerie flirts with literary glory in this mock horror tale. Harold, the "sad-eyed, droopy-eared" stories-must-be-told narrator of previous adventures, defers to his "nephew" to script this series, and the books turn out to be unexpected how-to-write-a-story primers. Harold serves as Howie's experienced editor who offers (often hilariously unheeded) advice and sage insight into a writer's lonely, compulsive, roller-coaster life. His timeless "write what you know" pearl transforms into a narcissistic, Woody Allenesque parody of a detective novel in which literary license has obviously been revoked. Howie revises as Harold criticizes and the story about conquering a ravenous stuffed koala bear that has come to life takes off. Notebook-like "Howie's Writing Journal" pages are interspersed throughout the text to apprise readers of his tortuous writing process. These "tales" could easily become the standard textbook for creative-writing classes.-John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TX

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2002
Reviewed with James Howe's "Invasion of the Mind Swappers from Asteroid 6!"

Gr. 3-6. What's a precocious wirehaired dachshund named Howie doing keeping a journal and writing books? As a member of the fabled Monroe family of "Bunnicula" fame, he's aspiring to be like Harold, resident dog author and honorary uncle. In "It Came from beneath the Bed!" Howie makes a bold foray into writing (with advice from Harold) in an adventure about a stuffed koala that assumes monstrous proportions when he accidentally ingests some of Pete Monroe's science-project potion. In "Mind Swappers," Howie concocts an sf tale about invading aliens who take over the personalities of earthlings. The chapters alternate between Howie's journal, filled with droll observations and tongue-in-cheek humor that stem from Harold's writing instruction, and chapters in Howie's own tales. Real author Howe has provided elementary students with an ingenious lesson in how to write, seamlessly blended with two first-rate tales starring a whimsical protagonist. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)