Things that Go Bump in the Day

by Melinda Beatty, Charlene Chua (Illustrator)

Overview

The sun is out and it’s time for vampire Vlad to go to bed, but it’s easier said than done with all the creepy, creaky daytime noises that keep him (and his mother) from getting a good day’s rest.

Vampire Vlad is all tucked in, ready for bed. But his imagination runs wild when he hears all the daytime noises happening outside. A clickety-clack, a skreek and a clang? Who knows what that could be!

With each new sound, Vlad races to his patient and reassuring, but tired mama’s room until he learns how to calm himself down and finally get a good day’s rest. Melinda Beatty’s clever text and award-winning illustrator Charlene Chua’s imaginative illustrations make the perfect bedtime read (during the day or night) for anyone a little nervous to go to bed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593616642
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/06/2024
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	131,634
Product dimensions:	10.38(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.32(d)
Lexile:	AD580L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Melinda Beatty (she/her) is the author of the Heartseeker series and the picture book Tell the Truth, Pangolin, illustrated by Paola Escobar. Her passion for books spills over into her second career as an indie bookseller. After living in boats, basements, and attics, she and her husband now reside in western Maryland with their two kids.

Charlene Chua (she/they) was born and grew up in Singapore, and moved to Canada in 2007. They worked as a web designer before moving to illustration full-time. Her first author/illustrator debut was Hug? and was the illustrator for the Stonewall Children's Award-winning Love, Violet. She now lives with her husband (and cats!) in Hamilton, Ontario.

Editorial Reviews

06/17/2024

Typical daytime noises—at first listen, a fire engine, a lawn mower—jangle the nerves and fuel the imagination of a young vampire trying to get some shuteye in Beatty’s reassuring take on bedtime anxieties. Teal-skinned Vlad, cozy in his coffin, calls for Mama when he hears a “CLICKETY CLACK, CLICKETY CLACK... SKREEEK!” and visualizes, in horror, a mail carrier going about their work. But blue-complexioned Mama assures Vlad that it’s merely their top hat–clad neighbor snake, Sirus the Slithery, riding his bike. Chua’s zingy digital art does double duty, delivering an image of Sirus zooming past the mail carrier. The tandem print and visual through lines allow for an engaging blend of outlandish and ordinary. Mama’s soothing, consistent presence—even while sporting Medusa-like snake hair curlers—permeates all. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"The witty digital illustrations will have kids chuckling . . . This twist on the bedtime tale will induce giggles—and, maybe, some reflection about kids’ own bedtime-stalling tactics . . . Children will stay wide awake, day or night, to finish this funny sleepy-time story." —Kirkus

"[A] reassuring take on bedtime anxieties. Chua’s zingy digital art does double duty . . . The tandem print and visual through lines allow for an engaging blend of outlandish and ordinary. Mama’s soothing, consistent presence—even while sporting Medusa-like snake hair curlers—permeates all." —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2024-05-04
Getting a good day’s rest is tough for a young vampire.

Trying to settle down in his casket isn’t easy for little Vlad, what with the terrifying cacophony coming from outside. He complains about “CLICKETY CLACK” and “SKREEK” sounds, while an accompanying image depicts a smiling, pink-skinned letter carrier delivering mail. Mama responds that it’s just Sirus the Slithery out for a bike ride; an illustration shows a huge striped snake in a top hat. But what about that loud “HERNK” (an image depicts a wailing fire engine)? Mama tells him it’s Gogonk the Ghastly, a horned, devilish duck, on his way to pick up the paper. The witty digital illustrations will have kids chuckling. The things Vlad sees as nightmarish are portrayed in a cutesy, childlike scrawl; suns, butterflies, and even trees are portrayed with wide smiles. Meanwhile, Gogonk and Sirus are grotesque, Tim Burton–esque creatures, but Vlad finds them reassuring. Does the artwork suggest that Vlad really hears the human world? Or are these scenes the result of his overactive imagination? The final illustration, showing Mama in her coffin, tormented by thoughts of the things that go bump in the day, may influence kids’ responses to these questions. Endearing Vlad has mint-green skin and small horns and fangs; lavender-skinned Mama wears batwing-shaped eyeglasses and curls her long, dark hair with snakes. This twist on the bedtime tale will induce giggles—and, maybe, some reflection about kids’ own bedtime-stalling tactics.

Children will stay wide awake, day or night, to finish this funny sleepy-time story. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews