Amanda Noll’s 2009 picture book I Need My Monster is solid, post-Monsters Inc. fun. By that I mean, given the fact that the book is built around a boy (Ethan) and his relationship with the standard monster under his bed, who seems to treat that position as a job. The book starts with Ethan finding a note under his bed from the monster who’s usually there (Gabe), letting Ethan know he’s going fishing, or taking a vacation in other words.
This establishes a world where kids and monsters have a friendly working relationship, with no real fear. That means that Ethan–and kids reading the book–can enjoy the process of Ethan interviewing replacement monsters. This gives illustrator Howard McWilliams lots of opportunities for colorful and very different monsters.
The story ends with Gabe returning–turns out fishing is kind of dull–and resuming his standard place.
So, there’s little tension and no risk here, but there is fun as Ethan interviews monsters and we get to see them.;
