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There’s a Nightmare In My Closet
Written and illustrated by Mercer Mayer
Puffin Books, 1968
ISBN: 0-14-054712-6
The one thing better than reading a monster book to your kid, is reading them a monster book you remember fondly from when YOU were a kid. This simple tale by Mercer Mayer (better known for his Little Critter books) will fit the bill for a lot of folks.
A little boy is certain there’s a ‘nightmare’ living in his closet. Tired of being afraid, one night he decides to get rid of his nightmare ‘once and for all’, and waits up with his toy gun in hand to take care of the problem. The nightmare does indeed appear - but it turns out he’s not quite so scary as the little boy had expected.
The illustrations, simple yet very expressive, create a great atmosphere that’s just shadowed and spooky enough, but still non-threatening to little readers. The nightmare, ominous when he first appears, ends up adorable and