
Photo credit: Oleg Shpyrko, peekaboo! 10 March 2011. Flickr. CC BY 2.0.
I am psyched that Bob Brown of B Cubed Press is purchasing my short children’s poem, “Peekaboo Monster,” for the collection, Alternative Bedtime Stories. This is especially thrilling for a number of reasons. First, it is my first piece of children’s literature. Second, it is based on the “Cuddle Monster” game my daughter and I played when she was very young. Third, B Cubed Press is explicitly progressive; the “alternative” in its titles alludes to this. “Peekaboo Monster” is not very political, but I think it fits the paradigm because in it the child speaker sees themself as powerful and magical, making the rules for the ordinary adults. Finally, I will be in the same volume as the amazing Jane Yolen, whose Commander Toad books were a particular favorite with us when my son was small.
I will leave you with the words to the cuddle monster game. They should be chanted with a blanket over one’s head. The tune is just one pitch, rising an octave for the italicized words: “I am the Cuddle Monster, I’m coming to cuddle you! / I’ll give you lots and lots of hugs, and lots of kisses too!”
My poem is better, but the chant brings back warm memories.