There's Something Under the Bed Review

New Page Books, (August 5, 2010)
Paperback, 224 pages
ISBN: 978-1601631343
Ordering Information:
Amazon.com

Boogey monsters? Creepy crawlies? In There’s Something Under the Bed!, author Ursula Bielski explores the relationship children have with the paranormal, stemming from her own experiences as a young child. There’s Something Under the Bed! highlights many topics, including ghosts, fairies, imaginary friends, past lives, and even occult games.

Bielski helps to paint a clear picture of the sometimes startling realities behind what many parents believe is their child’s overactive imagination. As parents, it can be easy to brush off a child’s insistence that someone else is in the room by dismissing fears, or making light of the situation. Rather than engage in fear-based confirmations, parents can help to encourage children to understand what they see and hear in the world around them, even if they themselves do not see and hear them. Extremely well-written, this informative book helps to bridge the gap between parents and children, seen and unseen.

First of all, the cover art is beautifully done by Ian Daniels, the same artist who created the illustrations for Dark Fairies. The book begins with a forward by Jeff Belanger, founder of Ghostvillage.com, host of 30 Odd Minutes, and author of The World's Most Haunted Places and Who's Haunting the White House?. Then proceeds to go on about various paranormal cases involving children as well as provide parents with advice on how to discuss the topic with their kids.

The overall tone is rather respectful. Bielski researched the topic well and was excellent at explaining the history and paranormal experiences. However, this books target audience is those who are fairly unfamiliar with the paranormal. She used cases that are well known versus topics which haven't been thoroughly discuss in books, websites, etc. I also didn't care for how she presented an opinion as the number one opinion. One thing about this field is it's a compilation of theories and opinions. No one person is 100% right about everything.

The book isn't the worst thing I've ever read, but after getting a sense of who Bielski is and her expertise, I feel it could have been a lot better.

Comments

Jessica Penot said…
I loved this book! I'm so glad you reviewed it too. I got to go on Belski's ghost tour in Chicago. It was a very good tour.
12:29 PM
Julie Ferguson said…
Great review! I can't tell you how many times I looked under my bed before going to sleep when I was little.
7:31 PM
momzblotter said…
Great blog, I look forward having you follow my blog, www.momzblotter.blogspot.com.
4:39 AM
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