Books That Explain the Bump in the Night

One of my childhood friends always felt that there were little people living under her bed. She wasn’t afraid of them, oh no! She felt that they were her friends and made up elaborate scenarios about them. On the other hand, I thought that my dolls and stuffed animals came to life whenever everyone was out of the house. So I would set them up. I would place little pieces of paper on them, and then when I returned home, I would run to my room to check to see if any of the tiny pieces of paper were on the floor. Here is a list of books that may explain that bump in the middle of the night or that creaky floorboard that wakes you up for no reason.

 

The Borrowers

by Mary Norton

The Borrowers are little people who live in the nooks and crannies of an old country house. The name “borrowers” comes from the fact that they borrow items from the home’s human occupants. This award-winning classic never fails to delight.

 

Catkin

by Antonia Barber, illustrated by P.J. Lynch

A young girl is captured by the little people and her palm-sized cat embarks on a mission to save her. There’s a wonderful blend of folklore and mythology in this beautifully illustrated book.

 

Gulliver's Travels

by Jonathan Swift

The six-inch tall Lilliputians don’t hide in the shadows. No, these “little people” dominate their realm and capture and torment a larger size human that they encounter. This much-loved book has been in constant print since 1726.

 

Hob and the Goblins

by William Mayne

Hob is a friendly, British house ghost who lives under the stairs in an old country house. Hob is happy that a new family has moved into the house, but he becomes dismayed when he finds that he has goblins, witches and gremlins to contend with, all the while trying to protect his new family.

 

The Indian in the Cupboard Trilogy

by Lynne Reid Banks

Wonderful stories of Omri, the little boy who knows the secret to bringing the plastic Indian to life, and the Indians adventures with foes big and small. This is a trilogy of stories, "Indian in the Cupboard," "Return of the Indian," and "Secret of the Indian."

 

The Littles

by John Peterson, illustrated by Roberta Carter Clark

Similar to The Borrowers, the Little’s are little people who also live in the nooks and crannies of a house. However, the human young boy of the home befriends the Littles and keeps secret their existence. The Littles appear in a children’s book series, a television program and a feature film.

 

The Minpins

by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Patrick Benson

Aggravated about always being told what to do, Billy wanders into the Forest of Sin. The Forest of Sin is the home of a fire-breathing monster. When Billy attempts to escape the peril he flees up at tree and discovers an entire community of matchstick people called Minpins. The Minpins also live in fear of the monster so together they hatch a plan to make the forest safe for all.

 

Mistress Masham's Repose

by T. H. White

Maria is a lonely heiress who is very shocked to learn that there is a whole community of little people living in secret on part of some neglected land on her family’s hereditary estate.