Bah Koo-Chaser of Bad Dreams: A Bedtime Story Book and Plush Toy

Based on a creature from Japanese mythology that destroys the bad dreams of children, Bah Koo has the snout of an elephant, the tail of a lion and the ears of a cow. He leaves home because he is different and is taken in by a human family. One night, a child in the family has a nightmare, and Bah Koo becomes a fierce animal that triumphs over the Bad Dream. He must then go forth into the world, in the light of the Great Creator, and take care of all Bad Dreams. In a fancy bit of cross-marketing, the mother sews plush toys for her children so they won't miss Bah Koo. The honeyed tones of the story are too precious, and Bah Koo, transformed for his fight, is much scarier than the nightmare. A piece of gimmickry but not even very good of its kind. All ages. (October)