Two Dad Books - Part 1 {No ghost under my bed}

I read two dad books recently, I wanted to say. But I know, we don't all agree on what a dad book is. I don't have a definition either. All I know is that at the end of each of those two books, I came away thinking that I had read a dad book.

No ghost under my bed is a picture book by Guido Van Genechten, Belgian author and illustrator. Just looking at the cover of book, I think you may just be able to make a guess as to what this book may be about.

Yes, it is that familiar story of a little child (in this case, a baby penguin, Jake) who tosses and turns in bed, trying to fall asleep one night, instead scared by every tiniest noise in his room which must definitely be made by a ghost, if not under the bed, then in the closet, or knocking on the window. What does terrified Jake do? Of course he calls his mum or dad, who courageously checks under the bed, behind the curtain for said ghost, only to find none. And, thanks to the good ghostbustery parent, Jake is finally satisfied that his room is truly ghost-free. In this case, it is the dad who saves the night, turns on and out the light, and is the hero of the fight. I like it that it's Jake's dad who comes to him, and not his mum, as in many stories about children whose fear of things that go bump keep them up at night. This little detail adds that bit of difference to an oft-heard tale. 

But, it is Guido Van Genechten's illustrations that score the winning goal for this book. The grayish hues throughout highlight Jake's apprehensions, while defining the book's reality mainly according to his overactive imagination. At the same time, the constant image of the lamp on every page, with the light it produces, offers its assurance just as clearly, that all is well. The simplicity of Van Genechten's illustrations urged me to take a closer look - there may just be a message hidden in the pictures on the wall of Jake's room, or in the facial expressions of his soft toy animals. I am not surprised that Van Genechten is a prize-winning illustrator. Apart from individual awards for Little Kangaroo, and Rikki, Guido Van Genechten was also named Reader's Digest Best Children's Book Illustrator in 2007. For more information on Guido Van Genechten's picture books, visit the Claris Publishing website here. 

Teacherish Tips:

• The predictability and simplicity of the storyline here make it a great book for interactive read-alouds with little ones. 

• It would also be an excellent starting point for conversations about emotions (e.g. fear, safety, love). 

More Activities: 

Visit Guido Van Genechten's website for downloadable coloring sheets!