HALLOWEEN PICTURE BOOK REVIEWS : That Monster on the Block & It's Halloween, Little Monster & How to Build a Haunted House
ABOUT THE BOOK
Monster is excited to
see what kind of creature will move into Vampire’s old house on the
block. He even starts practicing his welcome growl for the new neighbor.
But when the moving truck pulls up, it’s not a greedy goblin, an ogre,
or a dastardly dragon that steps out. Instead, it’s something even more
terrifying than Monster could have imagined! Monster quickly rallies the
other neighbors to unite against the new guy on the block. But what if
the new neighbor isn’t exactly as bad as Monster thinks? Join Monster as
he confronts his fears in this charming and lighthearted look at what
it means to accept others who are different from us.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR
Sue Ganz-Schmitt was born on the Fourth of July and grew up in Sherman Oaks, California. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and family. She is the author of many picture books, including the popular Planet Kindergarten and Planet Kindergarten: 100 Days in Orbit, both illustrated by Shane Prigmore. Sue holds an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Learn more at www.sueganzschmitt.com.
Twitter: SueGanzSchmitt
Luke Flowers is the illustrator of more than fifty children’s books, including the New York Times bestseller A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood with poems by Fred Rogers and Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol storybook. Luke enjoys puppeteering, playing banjo, and having wacky adventures with his family. He lives with his wife and family in Colorado Springs. Learn more about his story, books, and art at www.lukeflowers.com.
Twitter: @lafcreative
Instagram: @lfcreative
“This humorous, fast-paced story, narrated with clipped sentences, conveys an important, unsubtle message about the importance of accepting diversity.” —Kirkus Reviews
Check out the book trailer here!
Sue Ganz-Schmitt was born on the Fourth of July and grew up in Sherman Oaks, California. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and family. She is the author of many picture books, including the popular Planet Kindergarten and Planet Kindergarten: 100 Days in Orbit, both illustrated by Shane Prigmore. Sue holds an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Learn more at www.sueganzschmitt.com.
Twitter: SueGanzSchmitt
Luke Flowers is the illustrator of more than fifty children’s books, including the New York Times bestseller A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood with poems by Fred Rogers and Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol storybook. Luke enjoys puppeteering, playing banjo, and having wacky adventures with his family. He lives with his wife and family in Colorado Springs. Learn more about his story, books, and art at www.lukeflowers.com.
Twitter: @lafcreative
Instagram: @lfcreative
“This humorous, fast-paced story, narrated with clipped sentences, conveys an important, unsubtle message about the importance of accepting diversity.” —Kirkus Reviews
Check out the book trailer here!
REVIEW
This delightful take on the new neighbor theme was quite enjoyable. Monster is excited when he discovers someone is moving in next door, until he finds out that someone is not a monster. He quickly informs all his friends of the shocking news. He also goes out of his way to make sure no one welcomes their new neighbor. When the new neighbor reaches out to befriend Monster and his friends, they don't respond. The neighbor is pretty down about this but doesn't give up, making over his house, putting up a tent, and proceeding to help his neighbors with some of their problems. Monster is determined to scare his neighbor away, but when he stomps over to the tent to do so, he finds to his shock, that his friends are hanging out with his new neighbor. Will Monster continue to reject his new neighbor, or will he find that he was wrong? I found this a fun take on an important theme. Using monsters and a "blank" (don't want to spoil it for you!), makes the idea of welcoming those who are different seem fresh and new. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and amusing and complement the story wonderfully. A fresh take on an old topic.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Little Monster is going trick-or-treating for the very first time. There
are going to be all kinds of creatures about, like witches and vampires
and zombies. And lots of spooky noises too! As Little Monster makes his
way around the neighborhood, Papa is there to help guide him through
his fears as they encounter one scary thing after another…until they
reach the last house of the night. It’s the spookiest house of all,
and—YIKES!—there might be a surprise waiting for them. Will Little
Monster be brave?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR
Helen Ketteman has written twenty-seven books for children, including the popular Little Monster books, illustrated by Bonnie Leick, and At the Old Haunted House, illustrated by Nate Wragg. Her books have received numerous awards and accolades. She lives with her husband on Sanibel Island, Florida. Learn more at www.helenketteman.com.
Facebook: Helen Ketteman
Bonnie Leick creates books and animated projects for children. She is the illustrator of thirteen books for children, including the popular Little Monster books, written by Helen Ketteman, and Baby Bear Eats the Night, written by Anthony Pearson. She lives in Sister Bay, Wisconsin, with her husband and their two French bulldogs. Learn more at www.bonnieleick.com.
Facebook: Goodnight, Little Monster
Instagram: bonnie_leick
“Told in rollicking rhymes, the story delivers humorous, not-too-scary chills for the youngest readers. …Treat little ones to this sweet, entertaining holiday story.” —Kirkus Reviews
REVIEW
Little Monster makes an adorable character to introduce trick-or-treating for the first time. He isn't really certain about this whole trick-or-treating business and reluctantly accompanies his father around the neighbor. Little Monster's father spends most of the time reassuring his son about what he sees, including various costumed characters, sounds, decorations, and treats. But can he talk him into visiting the last house in the neighborhood? The one with a graveyard in the front yard, that seems extra spooky? Not only is this a cute Halloween story, but it has a spooky yet amusing ending that is just perfect. Young readers are bound to enjoy giggling at the end. Seeing little monsters dressed up in costumes is also rather amusing. The father's confidence is reassuring and perfect for little ones who are going trick-or-treating for the first time. A perfect read for Halloween.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Past the graveyard,
hear the howl
of werewolf loggers
on the prowl.
In this spooky, rhyming romp, creatures of all types work together to build a haunted house for a vampire family in need of a home. From mummies to Cyclops to the skeleton crew, they’re all working hard to get the job done. But they’d better hurry, because the house needs to be finished before the sun comes up. It’s a good thing their foreman, Frankenstein, is here to keep everyone in check. Will they get it done in time?
hear the howl
of werewolf loggers
on the prowl.
In this spooky, rhyming romp, creatures of all types work together to build a haunted house for a vampire family in need of a home. From mummies to Cyclops to the skeleton crew, they’re all working hard to get the job done. But they’d better hurry, because the house needs to be finished before the sun comes up. It’s a good thing their foreman, Frankenstein, is here to keep everyone in check. Will they get it done in time?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR
Frank Tupta grew up in a haunted house in Cleveland, Ohio. His favorite holiday is Halloween. He currently lives in Peninsula, Ohio (a haunted town), with his wife, children’s book author and illustrator Lindsay Ward and their children. How to Build a Haunted House is his debut picture book.
Follow him on Twitter @Ftupta or at his website www.uptasomething.com.
In the third grade, Kyle Beckett sold a drawing of a bluebird in sunglasses for a chocolate chip cookie at lunch. He grew up in Rockford, Illinois, and later moved to Sarasota, Florida, to study illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design. He is the author and illustrator of A Lovely Day for a Drive. He currently lives in Atlanta. Follow him on Instagram @kylebeckett.
“This fun and friendly book will be a hit at Halloween storytimes or with monster-loving children who don’t necessarily go in for frights.” —Booklist
REVIEW
What happens when a bunch of monsters get together to build a house? Pure chaos, that's what. Frankly, it's rather amazing that anything gets built. But each of the different monsters seems to know what they are doing as they dig, move dirt, pore a foundation, and build the house. Although, judging by the rather amusing illustrations, things aren't going as smoothly as one might think just reading the text. This is a case where the illustrations and text are both vital in order to appreciate the story. But despite the chaos, a house is completed as the sun rises. Although, I'm not sure how long the vampires will be able to stay judging by the happenings on the end papers. Still an amazing and amusing piece of work that young listeners/readers are bound to enjoy.
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