Review: Kamyla Chung and the Creepy Crawlies by Ellwyn Autumn (Kamyla Chung #1)
A gentle exploration of nighttime fears and the comfort that helps them fade.
Welcome
Some children’s books are loud and playful. Others move more quietly, meeting young readers exactly where they are. Kamyla Chung and the Creepy Crawlies belongs to the second kind, offering a thoughtful look at nighttime fears with warmth and steady reassurance.
About the Book
Kamyla Chung and the Creepy Crawlies By Ellwyn Autumn
Series: Kamyla Chung #1
Published by Angel Kiss Publishing on June 21, 2019
Genres: Children's Picture Book
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 25
Kamyla Chung has a big problem. Every night after her parents turn off the light, a giant creepy crawly appears on her bedroom wall.
Her parents buy her a night-light, but that only makes things worse! Will an exterminator be able to help, or will the creepy crawlies scare her away?
Beautiful illustrations and creative prose will endear children to the story of Kamyla, a little girl who sees things on her wall that might or might not be products of a vivid imagination.
In this story, young Kamyla must navigate the unsettling shapes and sounds that appear once the lights go out. As her imagination fills the room with creeping shadows, the story gently guides her toward understanding and reassurance.
View Kamyla Chung and the Creepy Crawlies on Goodreads
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Review at a Glance
| Genre: | Children's Picture Book |
| Setting: | Bedtime |
| Length: | 25 pages |
| Content Rating: | Suitable for all Ages |
| My Rating: | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Quick Take: | A gentle bedtime picture book that helps children navigate nighttime fears with warmth and reassurance. |
Content Considerations: Nighttime fears: Addresses a child’s fear of shadows and imagined "creepy crawlies" in the dark, handled in a gentle and reassuring way.
Tone: Calm, comforting, and age-appropriate for young readers.
My Thoughts
Kamyla Chung and the Creepy Crawlies by Ellwyn Autumn explores a familiar childhood experience: the unsettling shapes and sounds that seem to appear once the lights go out. Kamyla is convinced that mysterious "creepy crawlies" are climbing across her bedroom wall, and despite her fear, she gathers her courage and looks for answers without abandoning her bedtime routine. Readers who appreciate gentle reassurance in children’s stories may also enjoy my review of Mommy Is Here, another picture book centered on comfort and emotional security.
The illustrations are vibrant and expressive, bringing Kamyla’s imagination vividly to life while maintaining a soft, bedtime-appropriate warmth. The text is accessible for young readers, and the emotional arc is easy to follow, making it well-suited for shared reading.
One of the story’s strengths is the steady presence of Kamyla’s parents. Their patience and creative response — including the involvement of a “special exterminator” — reinforce the importance of support and reassurance when children face fears that feel very real in the moment.
As Kamyla uncovers the true source of her nighttime visitors, the resolution offers comfort without dismissing her experience. The story models gentle problem-solving and affirms that courage often begins with curiosity.
This is a thoughtful bedtime story that acknowledges childhood fears while guiding readers toward calm and understanding.
Meet the Author
About Ellwyn Autumn
Ellwyn Autumn is an American author/blogger/ghostwriter and a certified teacher with a Master’s Degree in Education. She writes children’s picture books, middle-grade novels, and Young Adult fiction. Ellwyn’s first self-published novel, Chris Kringle’s Cops The First Mission, was a Finalist in the 2016 Reader’s Favorite International Book Contest. Her Kamyla Chung picture book series addresses difficult issues facing young children. Kamyla Chung and the Classroom Bully is on Jedlie’s Certified Great Reads List and earned Story Monster Approval.
Ellwyn discovered her passion for writing in second grade when she had to write a book report for school. She was so excited to write the report until her mother told her that she had to write about someone else’s book and not her own story. Ellwyn became indignant and decided that once she finished the book report, she would most certainly write her own original story. She has been writing ever since!
Ellwyn lives with her family in Pennsylvania. She loves all things magical, curling up with a good book, writing stories, and almost anything with chocolate in it.
Disclosure: I purchased my copy of this book during an author promotion. All opinions are my own.
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My grandkids are okay with creepy crawlies, I'm the one that is not a fan. Great review, Gina.
Thanks, Carla! I’m not a fan of shadows at night either.