A Monster Makes Friends
story time
good books for bigs and littles
Jeremy Draws a Monster
There are tales of monsters throughout literature. Dracula. Frankenstein. There are probably a hundred reasons why monster stories appeal to us, but I think at least one is that monsters are…well…understandable. They do all the things we would do if we weren’t civilized human beings. Are there days (or well lit nights) when I feel like I might grow claws and fur and thrash everything in sight? Sure. I don’t do it, but it’s fun to read about (totally fantastic) creatures who do. I imagine that when you’re a toddler, monsters might be even a little more understandable. The social conditioning hasn’t quite stuck and so, I think, the average toddler might really feel that monster’s pain. Whether we’re four or forty, monsters are like mirrors, showing us are untamed inner workings.
Perhaps that’s one reason why Peter McCarty’s books Jeremy Draws a Monster and The Monster Returns are such a big hit at our house. McCarty’s simple but sweet stories and unique illustrations sweeten the deal.
In the first book, Jeremy Draws a Monster, Jeremy is an artistic little boy who plays by himself in his room and doesn’t mingle much with the other kids in his neighborhood. One day, on a whim, he draws himself a monster who, of course, immediately comes to life and starts behaving like a monster. (“He not has good manners,” as we like to say in my house.) When Jeremy’s monster kicks him out of bed in the middle of the night, Jeremy finally sends the monster packing, which forces Jeremy out of his room and into the mix of the neighborhood kids. (BTW - here’s a lesson plan that goes along with the book.)
The Monster Returns and Other Books
In The Monster Returns, Jeremy’s monster calls to say that he is bored and he’s coming back. Now that Jeremy has friends, he incorporates them into a plan to address the monster’s surprise return. I won’t give the secret plan away, but suffice it to say it’s a win-win solution.
I don’t know yet if there will be more books in the Monster series, but we’ve since enjoyed several other books by Peter McCarty and will be looking for more at the library. Chloe is a book about the purest kind of family time, and Fall Ball is about the mingled pleasures of coming home from school, playing in autumn leaves, and watching football.
McCarty’s pen and ink illustrations are simple, crisp, and cute, with surprising, quirky touches that make it a visual treat as well.
What’s your favorite monster book? Share in the Comments section below.
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