Monster Mess!

by Margery Cuyler, S.D. Schindler (Illustrator)

Overview

Crash, crash!

Stomp, stomp!

A tired monster goes up the stairs.
But

zzzz, zzzz,

a boy is sound asleep. And

ick, ick,

his room is not so neat —
not neat enough for a monster to take a nap! So

whishtt, whishtt,

the monster starts to clean.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689864056
Publisher:	Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication date:	08/05/2008
Edition description:	Repackage
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	931,807
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Margery Cuyler has written stories ever since she learned how to write. A children’s book editor and author for more than twenty years, she now devotes most of her time to writing. Her many children's books include 100th Day Worries, illustrated by Arthur Howard, and The Biggest, Best Snowman, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. Margery lives with her family in Princeton, New Jersey, in a house that’s said to be haunted by a ghost!

S. D. Schindler is the popular and versatile illustrator of many books for children, including Ursula K. Le Guin’s Catwings series; Skeleton Hiccups and Monster Mess!, both by Margery Cuyler; Big Pumpkin and the ALA Notable Children’s Book Don’t Fidget a Feather!, both by Erica Silverman; How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky; and Johnny Appleseed by Rosemary and Stephen Vincent Benét. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His website is SDSchindlerBooks.com.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-K- Ready to go to sleep, a multi-legged, long-tailed monster heads upstairs and into a bedroom only to hurt itself on toy blocks left on the floor. Grossed out by stinky socks and shoes, a juice-stained sheet, and general untidiness, the creature decides to "Clean, clean,/I'll make the room so neat," while the room's young occupant snoozes in the bed. In the morning, the child awakens ("Ring,/ring,/it's time to start the day") and happily discovers his visitor ("Giggle,/giggle!/'A monster's come to stay./Let's play!'"). The watercolor illustrations at times show only part of the creature as its head or other body parts extend off the page. Its numerous arms allow it to accomplish many tasks at once, an enviable feature. The font varies, emphasizing action words in larger boldface letters ("Stuff,/stuff...") and the rest of the line is a smaller size ("the/clothes/into/the/drawers"). Rhyming, repetitive text and whimsical images whirl on the pages, making this a fun read-aloud.-Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CA

School Library Journal

A cheerily skewed take on the familiar monster-under-the-bed schtick. While the family is nestled all snug in their beds, a clumsy monster creeps around the house. With a head like a frog (including a dangling tongue), an impossibly long tail that curls at the end like a cinnamon bun, funny fins and countless legs ending in red feet that resemble hands, the monster looks designed by a committee. "Shhh, shhh, along the floor I crawl. / Zzzz, zzzz, there's someone down the hall." The rhythmic, minimal verse charts his slow progress through the house to his boy pal's bedroom, which he helpfully cleans, stuffing everything into the closet and spritzing air freshener about. An alarm wakens the boy, and it's playtime with the monster! Schindler's quirky and colorful watercolors play with perspective, abetted by a text that dances around the pages in different paths and sizes. Simple but sublime, best suited to the very young. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews