  • Want to add a few new reads to the bedtime cycle? Try these three by local authors.

  • Monster Removal Guide (DLSgroup, $9.99) by Garett Gruber, illustrated by Patrick Carlson. Recommended for ages 4 and up

  • Feed Your Fish! (PublishAmerica; $19.22 Kindle, $21.36 paperback) by Michael Madlener, illustrated by Patrick Reeves. Recommended for ages 3 and up

  • I Am Flippish (CreateSpace Publishing; $7.95 Kindle, $10.75 paperback) by Leslie V. Ryan, illustrated by Adolph Soliz. Recommended for ages 5-10

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Looking for a fresh bedtime read with the kids?

Here are three children’s books by local authors that are worth the click on Amazon.com.

Monster Removal Guide (DLSgroup, $9.99) by Garett Gruber, illustrated by Patrick Carlson

Recommended for ages 4 and up

This imaginative handbook presents the “ten most highly-effective techniques for monster extraction,” suggesting devices from Kung Fu to ballet and the household vacuum to keep a child’s bedroom monster-free. The book concludes with a monster identification appendix of various common household monsters, as well as a page where children can catalogue monsters of their own.

Gruber’s humor-infused diction will appeal to kids of all ages, and parents will chuckle at each technique’s “disclaimer” at the bottom (example: “Towels do not repel monsters, so do not use them as a cape”). Worries that all this monster talk should be avoided at bedtime are squelched by Carlson’s bright, whimsical illustrations which present monsters as clumsy and lovable rather than daunting. Kids can continue the fun (and they’ll want to) at the author’s website monsterremovalguide.com, where they’ll find interactive monster identification and creation activities.

I Am Flippish (CreateSpace Publishing; $7.95 Kindle, $10.75 paperback) by Leslie V. Ryan, illustrated by Adolph Soliz

Recommended for ages 5-10

I Am Flippish will strike a chord with many families in Southern California who will appreciate its message of culture, diversity, and family pride. Inspired by the author’s own experiences with her children, the story follows Sean, a 7-year-old boy whose mother is Filipino and his father Irish-American. When Sean’s dad volunteers at his school, his friends question why he and his dad look nothing like.

When Sean feels sad about this, his parents explain that he is “Flippish,” half Filipino, half Irish, and that he has inherited the best traits of both parents. Through a classroom heritage project, Sean’s friends realize they, too, celebrate many cultures and new terms emerge to describe their ancestry: Japsican, Vietalian, and Swenglish.

This story is perfect for children who are curious about their heritage and multicultural families who can relate to feeling confused when asked, “What are you?” All kids will appreciate the concept of inheriting the best traits of both parents, and readers will also appreciate the facial expressions and bright colors in the illustrations.

Feed Your Fish! (PublishAmerica; $19.22 Kindle, $21.36 paperback) by Michael Madlener, illustrated by Patrick Reeves

Recommended for ages 3 and up

Friends for years, avid storytellers Michael (author) and Patrick (illustrator) drew from their experience as fathers to create an undersea adventure with an uplifting message. Winner of the 2011 Picture Book Preschool Gold Medal Award, Feed Your Fish! follows a young boy and his wild imagination on a journey under the sea where he discovers the universal values of community, responsibility, and kindness.

After young Winston neglects to feed his pet fish as his mother asks, he drifts off to sleep and dreams of a magical undersea world where a fish king helps him see that his irresponsibility has consequences. After realizing his error, he wakes up and commits to better appreciating the Earth’s creatures.

This is a great book for families trying to teach their children responsibility when it comes to pet ownership, as well as appreciation for their global community. The pleasant rhyme is reminiscent of Seuss, and the illustrations are especially delightful, complete with bright, vivid colors and little details that will have your young readers discovering something new with every read.

Also noteworthy: Feed Your Fish! earned the Children’s Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

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Autumn McAlpin is a local writer. In addition to writing weekly about family entertainment, she pens an OC Moms column called Cracking Up, in which she chronicles her crazy life as a mother of four.

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