Publisher's Weekly Review

In this peppy prequel to I Need My Monster and Hey, That's MY Monster!, Noll and McWilliam reveal how Ethan, a child, chose Gabe as his personal monster when he was younger. Three other vividly hued monsters compete for the job, under the direction of their teacher, Mr. Zee, but only Gabe, with his neon-green fur, spiked tail, and bulbous vermillion eyes, has the aptitude for scaring Ethan into bed--and keeping him there. Gabe, whose size increases exponentially after he snacks on some of the boy's crackers, clinches the role thanks to some secret weapons: the lime-green drool that oozes out from his resting spot under the bed as well as his snorts and gentle threats ("Got any toes I can munch?"), which simultaneously give the boy shivers and lull him to sleep. Like the text, McWilliam's brassy digital acrylics are more silly than scary, with the characters' wildly exaggerated facial expressions amplifying the comedy. Ages 5--7. (Nov.)