Move over, Frankenstein. Make room, Mummy. Take a hike, Wolfman. There are some new monsters in town. Delight little readers with these spooky, silly, furry, and ferocious beasts and their tales – and tails!
Maddie’s Monster Dad By Scott Gibala-Broxhol Amazon Children’s Publishing, 2011, hardcover, $16.99, Ages 5-7
Maddie loves acting scary and being scared. She also loves playing with her dad, except these days he is always busy with work. What else can she do but build a new Monster Dad? Too bad he’s not all Maddie cracked him up to be. Immerse yourself in Maddie’s haunted house until Dad finally breaks away from his office. The author of this lovely daddy-daughter picture book hales from nearby Walworth, NY.
Big Bad Bubble Written by Adam Rubin & Illustrated Daniel Salmieri Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014, hardcover, $16.99, Ages 3-6
No one knows where bubbles go after they are popped – until now. It’s La La Land, where donuts grow on trees, and fanged, clawed, horned monsters are afraid of the bubbles blowing into their home. With the assistance of the reader, the narrator helps the monsters get over their fears. This unique picture book is a dark delight.
Crankenstein Written by Samantha Berger & Illustrated by Dan Santat Little, Brown, 2013, hardcover, $16.99, Ages 4-7
Everyone’s heard of Frankenstein, but what about Crankenstein? You might recognize these monsters by their grouchy grumbles, whiny whines, and crabby cries. Perhaps you can scare the Cranks away by reading this book! Bright illustrations with stylized text make for emotive reading that will turn frowns upside-down.
Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters Written by Jane Yolen & Illustrated by Kelly Murphy Candlewick Press, 2013, paperback, $5.99, Ages 2-5
Colorful monsters play after school until it is time to go home, eat dinner, and get ready for bed. How many monster eyeballs can your little one find on each page? How many monsters? Simple rhymes and short text make this a perfect bedtime tale.
Don’t Push the Button By Bill Cotter Sourcebooks, 2013, hardcover, $16.99, Ages 3-6
It’s big, it’s red, and it’s dying to be pushed. It’s Larry the Purple Monster’s button! Larry warns readers not to touch the ever-present knob on the left-hand pages until he can’t resist…. Readers will enjoy following Larry’s instructions to get the monster madness under control in this interactive picture book.
Even Monsters… By A. J. Smith Sourcebooks, 2014, hardcover, $16.99, Ages 4-6
Monsters and humans aren’t so different. Both need to eat breakfast in the morning, put on clean underwear every day, and can be afraid of the dark. Good thing that’s something a hug can fix! Visit these monster siblings and their cute cooties while they wear their “Fur of the Loom” underwear and read a book called Even Humans. Each page has a lot to love.
Love Monster By Rachel Bright Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2012, hardcover, $16.99, Ages 3-6
Cutesville is made up of fluffy bunnies, squishy kitties, cuddly puppies – and a googly-eyed monster. Monster leaves town and searches high and low for a place where he fits in until finally, when he is about to give up, he finds a furry face like his own. Readers will want to hug the Love Monster and make him feel less alone no matter how pointy his toenails.
My Teacher Is A Monster! (No, I Am Not) By Peter Brown Little, Brown, 2014, hardcover, $18.00, Ages 4-7
Is your teacher a monster? Robert’s is! She scolds him in class, stomps between desks, and has a snout, green skin, and pointy teeth. At least she does until Robert sees her in the park far from the schoolyard. Maybe, just maybe, she is a real person after all. The comic book style illustrations are complete with word bubbles and frames. Kids will love pointing out Ms. Kirby’s features becoming less monster-faced as the book progresses. Another winner from a Caldecott-honored author and illustrator.
More reads: Craving more monster goodness? Try these novels:
Middle Grade
- Jellaby: The Lost Monster By Kean Soo
- The Lonely Lake Monster By Suzanne Selfors
Young Adult
- Dreams of Gods and Monsters By Laini Taylor
- Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children By Ransom Riggs
- A Monster Calls By Patrick Ness
- Monster High by Lisi Harrison
- Monsters By Ilsa J. Bick
- Monsters of Men By Patrick Ness
- The Monstrumologist By Rick Yancey
- The True Tale of the Monster Billy Dean, Telt By Hisself By David Almond
- The Replacement By Brenna Yovanoff
Deena Viviani is a Rochester-based Young Adult Services Librarian. Read more reviews on her blog www.deenaml.livejournal.com or send her a note at DeenaViviani@hotmail.com – she loves to hear from readers!
