A child wakes up ready to play, but this morning he hears a strange noise coming from outside his bedroom.
On the other side of the door is a giant crying monster. The child tries to offer comfort. The child's arms won't fit around the monster for a hug. The child's hand disappears in the monster's giant paw. The child's hanky is drenched by the monster's huge tears. But eventually the monster settles and tells the child that his company is enough. Then they play a game of hide and seek.
How to Comfort a Monster explores big emotions, the challenges of comforting someone through them and the importance of being there for people (and monsters) even when the tears seem like they'll never end.
“Cederstrand offers a modern fable that highlights the force of friendship and the importance of allowing space for big emotions. Brought to life by Dackenberg’s water-colour illustrations, the skillful use of perspective maximized the monster’s presence on the page, creating a physical representation of the enormity of grief and the powerlessness of the young protagonist. A poignant tale of friendship and feelings, and a relevant addition to picture book collections.”