Joe is afraid of the monster under his bed until he gets to know him and finds out how much they share in common. ( )

I wasn't sure I was going to like this book when I got a glimpse of DiRocco's somewhat cutsie illustration style, but this book about how one child goes about banishing his demons is almost as much fun as Mercer Meyer's There Are Monsters Everywhere. When Joe becomes increasingly frustrated with the steps he has to take to protect himself from the monster under his bed, he decides to write the monster a letter. Then the monster writes back. The letters are my favorite part -- funny and childlike, in a good way. Families will enjoy. ( )