The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed

The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed 
by J. W. Zarek
 
What if the monster under the bed wasn't actually a monster at all? What if the creatures living under there were just trying to get some peace and quiet?
 
That is the fun idea behind J. W. Zarek's The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed, a playful children's story that turns the familiar childhood fear of the monster under the bed completely upside down.
 
Fred lives beneath a bed with his three dust bunny friends, Brutus Bunfluff, Gunnar Puffbutz, and Dust Puff Ted. They have made themselves a cozy little home where everything has its place and life is pretty much the way they like it. That changes when Billy and his sister Bella arrive, bringing plenty of stomping, jumping, crashing, and general bedroom chaos with them.
 
Naturally, Fred and the dust bunnies assume the worst. Something huge and frightening must be living above them. After all, what else could possibly make all that noise?
 
I enjoyed watching Fred slowly figure out that the so-called monster isn't really a monster at all. It's Billy, a young boy who is just as confused and frightened by the strange things happening around him. Billy thinks there might be monsters under his bed, while Fred and his friends are convinced that Billy is the monster above it. Neither side really understands what is happening until they finally meet.
 
That is where the story's message comes through nicely. Instead of staying afraid of one another, Fred and Billy talk things out. They discover that they can share the same space, and that some of the things they blamed on each other weren't what they seemed. Even better, the whole situation ends with cookies, an apology to Bella, and a little help getting Billy's room cleaned up.
 
The dust bunnies are a particularly entertaining part of the story. Each one has a distinct personality, from Brutus's bravery to Gunnar's nervousness and Ted's obsession with cleanliness. Ted, in particular, adds some funny moments as he reacts to the mess and tries to keep everything organized. There is plenty of silly sound-effect language throughout the book too, with all the BOOOM, STOMP-CLOMP-CLUMP, THUD-THUD-THUMP-THUMP, and other noises helping give the story an energetic, almost read-aloud quality.
 
I also liked that the book doesn't simply tell children not to be afraid. Instead, it shows how easy it can be to misunderstand someone when you don't know what is really going on. Fred is afraid of Billy, Billy is afraid of the creatures under his bed, and both eventually realize that neither one was what they imagined.
 
At its heart, The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed is a story about fear, communication, sharing, and making room for someone who seems very different from you. It has plenty of silliness for younger readers, but there is also a simple lesson tucked underneath all the stomping and cookie crumbs.
 
And honestly, I think the idea of the "monster above the bed" is what makes this story especially fun. Kids who have ever wondered what might be hiding under their own bed may get a kick out of imagining that there could actually be a whole little family down there, wondering what on earth is making all that noise.
 
A cute, imaginative read with plenty of personality, The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed offers a different take on a familiar childhood fear and ends on a sweet note about friendship and understanding.

Purchase the book on Amazon 

See more inside the book on Instagram