Bedtime for Beasties

Bedtime for Beasties flips the classic monster-under-the-bed story on its head: instead of the child being afraid, she takes charge and directs the beasties like a little movie producer before tucking them in herself. It is a genuinely empowering premise, and Jia Liu's illustrations carry the playful, slightly absurd energy the concept needs. Kirkus noted the verse takes a few pages to find its rhythm — a fair observation, and parents will feel it in the first read-aloud — but once the book hits its stride, the rhyming rolls well. Published by a Presbyterian imprint, it is completely family-safe. For children who wrestle with nighttime fears, this is a warm, funny tool for reframing the dark.