I Will Read to You

by Gideon Sterer, Charles Santoso (Illustrator)

A gentle blend of spooky and sweet, I Will Read to You is a unique rhyming bedtime tale about empathy, storytime...and monsters.

Once upon a time, there was a boy who loved stories—scary ones about skeletons and witches, giants and ghosts, vampires, dragons, mummies and goblins. But he wondered…do monsters have anyone to read to them ? Armed with only a book and a flashlight (and with his bemused mother in tow), he travels through the night, calling together every monster he can think of to make sure they get the bedtime story they need.

Delightfully spooky and surprisingly tender,  I Will Read to You celebrates monsters, stories, and the way a good book can bring us together.

(Don't forget to find the little orange monster hidden on almost every page!)

Genres: Picture Books, Monsters, Halloween, Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Holiday

40 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2023

Reviews

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this cute and whimsical fantasy story for children. The illustrations were adorable and gorgeous. I love the themes of this book as a young child seeks to bring stories to monsters. The writing was lyrical and lovely. I would highly recommend a wide number of readers.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Do monsters have anyone to read to them?”

I adore this book. My hand went right over my Halloween-loving heart when I said that. :) From the very first peek under the cover to the last word said out loud! It’s a big, BIG hug from the monster world.

A monster-loving little boy wonders if anyone tucks the beasts of the dark into bed at the end of the night. A very good question indeed.

“I listen close and hear a bump,
a roar, a growl, a hoot, a thump.
Shouldn’t they all be in bed,
This noisy, sleepless crew?”

So, the boy calls to them. All of them to join him for a story. He calls out to the vampires, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, and trolls. Come! “I will read to you.” And aren’t those the sweetest words? Everyone deserves a story or two at bed time. Even the scary monsters!

Gah! Where to start? How about the art. It’s by Charles Santoso, so I shouldn’t have to say more. But I will! Every image—big or small--is in on the fun here. A sky chock full of witches, branches stretching into the dark, and sleepy, green smiles all pulled me in and along for the read and ride. I’ve read through these pages countless times and they never, ever seem to lose their magic. Every nook and cranny of this book lights up with sweet, spooky softness and story time joy.

I stopped and admired so many word combinations here. Like….”a golden, glowing, ghoulish sphere”. Or this one could be my favorite… “now that dark’s devoured day”. I love that description.

All of that gushing is me just saying shouting….READ THIS BOOK. For yourself and for every monster out there.

Highly recommended. A must read this Halloween season.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable. Love this non-violent way to conquer fears. Delightful in atmosphere and empowering for kids.

[Catarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean - it rhymes, it has monsters, and it has books. Where can one find a better story? I’m not sure but this certainly scratched an itch in my brain for a top tier children’s book that I didn’t know I would ever feel. I just loved it so much and the rhyming helped keep the story flowing and the illustrations were just downright fun! I would highly recommend.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sterer did a terrific job of walking the line perfectly between sweet and creepy. Monsters deserve bedtime stories! Everyone needs books! I love the empathy portrayed here. Kudos to the Mom for raising such a great kid. (Not all moms would go along with this plan, especially when it's bedtime.) I think that this would be fun to read for a spooky/monster storytime.

[Sue Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes rhyming, sometimes not made the story feel disjointed to me.

[Dayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little on the scary side for my kids, but we still enjoyed it. Would be good for Halloween.

[Faye 🫀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and whimsical and the artwork reminded me of where the wild things are

[Nicole Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once there was a boy who loved scary stories and often wondered if scary things liked stories too. With his reluctant mother, he goes out to try to read to all the monsters to see what would happen. My kids smiled and laughed from the first end pages. I smiled from the little boy’s question of “who tucks in beasts?” and it only got better from there. Yes, there are monsters (great for Halloween!) but they are creepy-cute enough for fascinate rather than scare. The text is also that perfect rhythm and rhyme that it sounds like a chant or song as you read it. I received a very early ARC of this book and after we read this three times, my six-year-old asked twice if we get to keep it or have to return it to the library. I told him, it’s a keeper.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once and done for this Grandma.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect combination … books and Halloween! This is an adorable, spooky and sweet picture book filled with beautiful illustrations to capture the Halloween/October theme, about an empathetic little boy, who loves monsters, and loves to read!

Once upon a time, there was a boy who loved stories-scary ones about skeletons and witches, giants and ghosts, vampires, dragons, mummies and goblins.
But he wondered.
Do monsters have anyone to read to them?
Delightfully spooky (and surprisingly tender), I Will Read to You is a unique bedtime tale about the way a good book can bring us together.

"Gather, Ghosts, float this way, now that dark's devoured day.
Open up your haunted hearts
and I will read to you…

Fly now, Witches, on your brooms, march now, Mummies, from your tombs, come now, Goblins, Ghouls, and Trolls!
I will read to you.”

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely charming, and I love it (my 2.5 daughter liked it, and we'll try again in a few months.) A lovely concept (a little boy concerned about monsters not having anyone to read them a bedtime story), whimsical illustration, and good execution.

12/18/24 Edited to Add: I finally got a copy to keep at home yesterday (vs. checking it out from the library intermittently), and while reading it to my daughter again, she just kept whispering "This might be my favorite book."

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story so much! I feel it'd make a great Caldecott for 2024. I know it didn't which is a shame. This would be great around Halloween, but it works any time of the year, really.

This is a book that my nephew would have loved growing up. We would have had to read it over and over again. It has monsters in it. I miss those days.

This boy is about to go to sleep. Mom comes in to read him a bedtime story. He gets sad because all the ghouls and ghosty's out there don't have anyone to read to them. So, he and his mom trek out to the woods and the boy reads to all the scary's that go bump in the night. Then his mom can finally read him a story.

Artwork was to die for in this story. So cozy, so warm and sort of eerie. Just enough for a kid to feel safe. Everything was so beautiful. Such great work with light. The monsters were fun too.

I love this story. I found a new great one.

[Katie Hutchison Irion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Will Read to You by Gideon Sterer and Charles Santoso is not necessarily a Halloween book but it is filled with vampires, zombies, giants, and all sorts of other beasts and monsters so I am going to include it here. I will say though, it is a tender story and while there are beasts and monsters it is not scary. It is the darling story of a young man who is getting ready for bed. His mother asks him what kind of story he wants her to read to him and he requests something spooky. As his mother reads, he starts to worry about the beasts, “Who tucks in beasts? Who cares for them?” His worry is so deep that he decides to do something about it. He and his mother journey outside, to the edge of the forest, and there, in the dark of the night, he reads to the vampires, goblins, ghouls, and trolls until all those beasts fall asleep. It is a sweet, tender story but also filled with popular Hallowen characters.

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute and slightly spooky book for those who love monsters, giants, mummies, and more. This book is a fairly neat twist on being scared/worried. As the child is read a "scary" book they pull up their knees and looked concerned... but rather than being scared of those fell beasts, they're instead concerned that no one will read them a story. So they and their mother embark on an adventure to gather them so the child can read them a goodnight story.

If you're doing a spooky storytime with a fairly small group, this could be a great choice. The pictures are rather dark and muted and dark (which matches the content perfectly), and this would make it rather hard to see for larger groups. With that in mind, I think it could work well for a lower or upper-elementary school read-aloud.

[Susan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the BEST going to bed book. The Child, who couldn't look more like Max from Where the Wild Things Are, loves EVERYTHING monstrous. He adores all of the monsters. And when his mother reads him his bedtime stories, he suddenly wonders: who is reading bedtime stories to all of the monsters? Who is putting them to bed? He then sets off on an epic quest (with his story wielding mom) to make sure that the monsters get their bedtime stories. This could not be any cuter or more wonderful. Make sure you have your own copy for your own monsters... er, kids... not that they are mutually exclusive. :-D

[Pat-z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book that I read for Storytime to the kids.
Boy dressed as monster wonders who reads to the monsters. Goes out to the woods, his mother tagging along, to read to the cute and creepy creatures- who promptly fall asleep during the story. It was sweet and inclusive. Not just cute little creatures are invited. Even ghosts, vampires, and skeletons are welcomed. The kids I read to seemed concerned for a second when ghosts and skeletons were invited to the story, but they quickly moved on and enjoyed the story. Good way to remind us all that even "creepy" beings have a place in the world. (And they enjoy stories, too!)

- Sincerely, a weird kid. Me.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun bedtime book with a cute premise. A little monster-obsessed boy is concerned at bedtime. His mom reads to him before bed, but who reads to all the monsters? So, he takes his mother by the hand and drags her to the highest hill where he calls to all the various monsters and then reads them to sleep.

The illustrations are fun and spooky, the rhyming text begs to be read aloud, and the end papers (and the whole book design) are very well done. Just right for kids who want something a little spooky.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spookily sweet story, perfect for bedtime. Our Max wannabe loves monsters. And books. When mom offers to read a bedtime story, our child wonders -- who will read to the monsters? So they venture out into the dark, monsters are called and story time begins! And a bedtime story is lovingly read by the child to all the many monsters that have come to listen.
This is a fairly non-scary monster story. Halloween is not mentioned but it would be a fun one to include in an October story time - especially an evening one!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's bedtime and a young child, who looks a lot like Max from Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, wants to hear a spooky bedtime story. "I like ones with monsters best." But the child, who not only loves monsters but believes in them, worries that no one is reading to the monsters. The child goes outside to read to the monsters and all kinds of monsters come out to listen including skeletons, ghosts, and vampires, but the child is never afraid. A lovely picture book for the young reader who enjoys the gently creepy.

[Kelly]

Cute. I love how it has repetition and not every other line rhyming in a stanza. That's different. I like how the mom goes along with the boy and how the boy puts the creatures to sleep. The cover is very representative of what the book is about. Not sure that under the jacket is that interesting what with it being so very brown, but it is different. I actually think the jacket cover is cute and didn't need an undies.

[Robin Berman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations by Charles Santoso.

This reminded me of "Where the Wild Things Are."

A little boy at bedtime goes outside and decides to read to all the various spooky creatures from Vampires, ghosts, witches, giants, mummies, goblins and more. Maybe a lesson in acceptance of those who are different.

There is a little monster ball shaped guy throughout the book but no explanation for what it was.

Great for Halloween 🎃

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The protagonist loves scary stories. However a thought occurred to the boy: scary things need to hear stories before bedtime too! He persuades his long suffering but devoted mother to let him go outside to gather up scary creatures and read to them. Then she finally reads to him after telling him she’s “proud of him” for thinking about those neglected by most. Lovely sweet story. I loved the homage paid to Sendak’s “Where the Wild things Are”!

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joyful bedtime story before bed - but who reads to the monsters before bedtime? Not only for Halloween storytime, how about for those who fear there are monsters under the bed or in the closet? Attentive readers will be delighted to see a common critter from the endpages show up throughout the monster storytime. Kinda looks a bit like the Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty - if he was cute and little, lol. Alway enjoy Santoso’s illustrations. Tagline: Everyone needs a bedtime story!

[Juushika · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A boy who loves spooky bedtime stories insists on providing the same service for monsters. This a love letter to spooky icons in deep, textured art, inverted by a cutesy, wholesome narrative. The rhyming text scans well enough, but it's a little strained and further ages down the book; I could do without. Phenomenal atmosphere, highly relatable protagonist, fantastic art, but so pure that it doesn't make for a satisfying book about monsters.

[Forest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an adorable picture book!!! I don't typically mark the picture books I read at work on GoodReads, but when I finished I Will Read To You I knew it would be a favorite recommendation of mine for a long time. It's such a great message to remember to include the "monsters" but also just an adorable story about a kid reading a story to all his favorite ghouls, ghosts, and bats.

[raccoon reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute picture book you could read at Halloween or anytime. The little boy loves reading to monsters and he goes out to find them and reads to them under the moon. Even my 9 year old still liked this story. We had fun picking out our favorite monster on each spread and finding the cute little monster that moves through each page and eventually back home with the little boy. 🖤🖤🖤

[Keonique Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even the forgotten creatures need stories too. This story highlights a child concerned about the stories being told to the scary things that haunt us in our dreams. Instead of being afraid the little one boldly ventures out and volunteers to read to the forgotten. Once his task is complete he migrates back home and settles into the comfort of his bed.

[Lannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars. One of my littles’ favorite reads. The lyrical rhyming and bedtime routine are warm and inviting, but what makes this book special is how the story develops and includes the not-so-typical audience for bedtime stories. A sweet message on inclusion and speaking up, and everyone deserving love, in this case in the form of a bedtime story. ❤️

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful and charming...the artwork reminded me (in a positive way) of the art of Maurice Sendak. Read this while placing it on the "new picture books" display at the library where I work. I gave it 4.5 stars on LibraryThing, my primary book (and CD and DVD) cataloging service, but GoodReads doesn't give half-star options, so I'm rounding it down here.