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Monsters at bedtime: managing fear in bedtime picture books for children

The Arts

Monsters at bedtime: managing fear in bedtime picture books for children

M. Maynes

This research by Mary-Louise Maynes delves into the fascinating world of 'bedtime' monsters in children's literature, revealing how these characters aid children in overcoming their fears. Through a detailed examination of contemporary texts from the 20th and 21st centuries, the study highlights various psychological strategies and visual techniques that transform fear into playful experiences.... show more
Abstract
Monsters frequently appear in children's bedtime picture books as embodiments of common night-time fears. This article explores the role and nature of such 'bedtime monsters' across 20th–21st century English-language picture books for ages 2–5, with close attention to three contemporary texts: Molly and the Night Monster (Wormell, 2018), Bedtime for Monsters (Vere, 2011), and The Wardrobe Monster (Thomson, 2018). It argues that these texts mirror young children's preferred coping strategies, especially positive pretence (minimising threats by changing their perceived nature), and additionally manage fear through literary and visual devices (e.g., image framing, typography, and humor). The article concludes that this body of texts is now established enough to invite self-reference and parody, ensuring continued playful evolution of bedtime monster stories.
Publisher
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
Published On
Aug 12, 2020
Authors
Mary-Louise Maynes
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-020-00561-4
Tags
bedtime monsters
children's literature
psychological strategies
fear management
picture books
visual devices
literary analysis

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