About this item
What does this monster have under his bed?Bobo is a young monster who's afraid to sleep in his own bed. He is sure there is a boy hiding beneath it - a boy with "pink skin and orange fur on his head where his horns should be." Bobo's older brother thinks he's a fraidy-cat, but his grandpa, Boo-Dad, knows all about these fearful creatures. And Boo-Dad knows exactly what to do to scare them away. But after being afraid for so long, Bobo might just want to take matters into his own paws and find out if the creature under his bed really is as bad as he thinks.This rambunctious story of a youngster overcoming anxiety and limitations is set in a captivating otherworld that springs to life in pictures full of enchantment and surprise.
About the Author
"As you go the way of life, you will see a great chasm. Jump. It is not as wide as you think." --Native American Proverb
Children's book author, speaker and teacher BARBARA JEAN HICKS claims that everything she knows about writing, she learned from her favorite cat. Miguel had a nose for adventure, she says, leaping into the unknown like an old-world explorer, learning along the way. And he had the scars to prove it.
A writer, too, is a curious creature, Barbara says, always sniffing about for new ideas. Observing, reading, eavesdropping. Haunting favorite places and exploring new ones. Paying attention.
"For me," says Barbara, "starting a story is an adventure, a leap into the unknown. I might begin with a curious bit of dialogue, a vivid description, a word or phrase that tickles my funny bone. Before I have any real idea where I'm going, I'm on my way. I let the writing take me where it wants to. It's only after I've plunged into a project that I begin to find out what it's really about. The act of writing teaches me what my story is, how it wants to be told, why it matters. Slowly. Rewrite after rewrite. Not very efficient, I'm afraid. Messy. Unpredictable. Fun!" Her writing mantra, Barbara claims, is simple: Look, leap and learn!
Almost as much as she loves to write, Barbara loves presenting assemblies and writing workshops in schools as a visiting author. She has taught at every level from preschool to community college and worked in an elementary school as author-in-residence, program facilitator and parent educator. In conjunction with her school visits, Barbara also offers a publishing program for student work.
Barbara Jean, a.k.a. the Story Queen, lives in Oxnard, California but considers Northwest Washington her home. Visit her online at www.barbarajeanhicks.com.
