Cory Doctorow, the author of Canada Reads 2020 finalist Radicalized has released his first picture book.

Poesy the Monster Slayer is a Matt Rockefeller-illustrated children's book about a young girl who is obsessed with spooky creatures, werewolves and vampires. Once her parents are off to bed, Poesy excitedly awaits the monsters that creep into her room.

Doctorow is a Canadian blogger, journalist and author based in Los Angeles. He serves as co-editor of the blog Boing Boing. His past books include the novels Little Brother and Walkaway and the novella collection Radicalized.

Toronto Raptors media personality Akil Augustine defended Radicalized on Canada Reads 2020.

"Poesy is a book about a little girl who is obsessed with monsters, who uses her deep knowledge of monsters' weaknesses to repurpose her toys — a princess tiara, bubblegum-scented perfume, a doll-house's roof, and more — as field-expedient monster-slaying weapons, to do nightly battle with the monsters who come into her room, to the great consternation of her parents, who only want to get a good night's sleep," said Doctorow on the blog Boing Boing.

Poesy the Monster Slayer marks a departure of sorts for Doctorow, typically known for his adult and YA fiction with themes of technology, security and government surveillance.

"This is the monster-kid book I wanted to read as a kid, and that I wanted to read to my kid! Monsters are just the best, and the only thing better than them is defeating them by the power of your wits, ingenuity and bravery," Doctorow told CBC Books in an email.

"I wanted a book that was fierce and spooky but never scary, and that's exactly how it came out."

Poesy the Monster Slayer is for ages 4-6. It was published in July 2020.