Susanna Leonard Hill has a feature on her blog called Perfect Picture Book Friday. It is a list of “perfect” picture books recommended by all sorts of people. I chose this book because it’s so FUNNY!
The Monster at the End of this Book
By Jon Stone
Illustrated by Michael Smollin
24 pages – ages 2+
Published by Golden Books (2nd edition) on May 13, 2003. Originally published in 1971.
Theme/Topic – Facing your fears / Humor
Opening and Synopsis – “What did that say? On the cover, what did that say? Did that say there will be a MONSTER at the end of this book??? IT DID? Oh, I am so scared of MONSTERS!!!”
Grover is scared of the monster at the end of the book. He tries his very best to keep the reader (you) from turning the pages and getting to the end of the book where the MONSTER is! He ties the pages together, nails the pages together and tries to build a brick wall on the pages to make them too heavy to turn. So, every time you turn the page, Loveable, Furry Old Grover FREAKS OUT! When you finally get to the last page, Grover realizes the only monster there is…HIM (and he is very embarrassed about it 😉 )!
Why I liked this book – First of all, look at the illustrations! Who wouldn’t LOVE that?!?
Secondly, it’s really neat how it seems like Grover is really talking to you in the book. I love making Grover freak out! The book is hysterical and it is pretty neat how you make Grover face his fears. Thirdly, this was my mom’s FAVORITE book from when she was little and it is REALLY funny to hear her read it!
Activities and Resources –
While I really like the book version of “The Monster at the End of this Book” there is an award-winning app available from Apple and I have to admit, it’s pretty cool. I think little kids will really love it. You can check it out HERE.
The best resource for the book is the Sesame Street website! It is an awesome website packed with all kinds of great stuff for kids. You can to go it by clicking HERE.
There’s another book called “Another Monster at The End of This Book” starring Loveable, Furry Old Grover and Equally Loveable, Furry Little Elmo (that’s right folks! Elmo! 🙂 ). I haven’t read it yet, but I think I will 🙂 .
To find more Perfect Picture Books please visit Susanna Hill’s blog HERE!
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Categories: Age 1-5, Age 6-9, Erik's Favs
Erik, I smiled when I saw that you did a review of this book. I read this great book many times to my two youngest children years ago. They enjoyed it and it is fun to read.
Good job! 🙂
Thank you! I’m glad you liked the review!
It finally happened! Two people posted the same book on the same day! Darshana at Flowering Minds put this one up too! But you put resources – thank you so much!!! And I’m glad to have this book on the list – it’s one of my favorites!
I SAW THAT HA HA!! Great minds think alike! I liked Miss Darshana’s review! I like how she calls Grover a “drama queen”! Thank you for the compliment!
I remember first reading this book when I was probably about YOUR age! Thank you for reminding me some of the reasons why I loved it then and still love it now! Great choice for Picture Book Friday.
Thanks Ms. Martin! This was one of my mom’s favorite books too! 🙂
We didn’t get Sesame Street in the rural town where I grew up (no, I’m not 100!), so I had a completely Big Bird and Elmo-free childhood. I’ve never seen this book, but I am also a drama queen, so I love how he freaks out all the time! I bet kids get a big kick out of turning the pages against Grover’s wishes. Thanks for bringing Sesame Street into my life, Erik – better late than never. 🙂
It’s FUN to freak Grover out! I’m glad you learned about this book!
Yipee! I love monster books and I haven’t read this one. Great review. I like the illustrations, too…thanks for showing examples of them.
This is a GREAT monster book! I’m glad you like the illustrations!
My kids would love this. I wish I’d have known about it when they first watched Monsters Inc. and had bad dreams. They love Elmo too. Can’t wait to read it Erik, thanks!
It’s a good way to talk about monster fears. I want to read the Elmo version one too 🙂
I can’t believe I haven’t read this one yet. Thanks for sharing Erik, great review!!
Thank you for your comment! I hope you like it if you read it!
This was a favorite of mine when I was a little girl! I read it over and over and over again. Though, to be fair, I read EVERYTHING over and over and over again. 🙂
Ha Ha! I read everything a couple times too!
This was one of my favorite books growing up, too! I think I still have it…somewhere. I actually read it aloud for a church talent show once. Everyone LOVED it! I should add this book to my list of monster books and more monster books on my blog.
I checked out you list of Monster books! That’s a GREAT list! I would have liked to see your performance 😉
Erik, I LOVE this one. My daughter used to ask for it over and over and over.
I still like to read it 😉 The ipod app is cool too 🙂
This book sounds fantastic, and I’m so glad that you shared it too, today, Erik!
I have to check out that App!
Erik, great review. Will have to check out the app. I never read it before, so will have to now that two people have selected the same book. I’m surprised this hasn’t happened before. But, you each did very different reviews. 🙂
That’s funny that two people on the SAME day picked the SAME book! You know it has to be good 🙂
The app is really awesome! You get to break the wall down and it’s funny to see Grover freak out!
Hey Erik, you should check out the app of this book too. It is FANTASTIC! You actually get to knock that wall down. 🙂
I LOVE the app!!! I like when you get to untie all the ropes too! Did you get the one with Elmo in it app too? I have not seen that one 🙂
This is one of the best! We loved it, and read it time and time again. Such a fun concept. Great review Erik, and great choice to add to the list 🙂
Thank you Ms. Edwards! It is a book you can read a lot of times!
It’s a really fantastic book. One of my favorites considering it’s a licensed type property. Usually that stuff isn’t as fun. But this is a really wonderful read.
I agree, it’s a wonderful read! Thanks Mr. Fearing!
This is one of the coolest books ever. I attended a writing workshop two years ago and the editor used this as the perfect example of a picture book outside the box. Other examples were DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS by Mo Willems, David Weisner’s THE THREE PIGS, and Antoinette Portis’s NOT A BOX.
But this one was her favorite. It’s also known as a non-traditional narrative. A good lesson for those of us trying to write picture books! Think outside the box!
Great review, Erik.
Thanks Ms. Fritz! Those other books are good! I really like Mo Willems’ “We Are in A Book”, too!
We have had this book for years and we love it! Excellent review and super resources too. I have never seen the app though. Very cool! *smiling and waving*
Thanks Ms. Campbell! You should check out the app. It’s really fun! 🙂
Ha ha!! I LOVE Grover. This is definitely an oldie but a GOODIE. Thanks for reminding me, Erik. My Grade 1 class would adore this book.
I am a huge fan of Grover, too! I hope your First Grade class likes this book!
Erik 🙂
P.S. You are welcome!
Great Review Erik, loved that you put some pics of the book for us to see. I remember having to make a Big Bird Cake for a birthday party once….lol. It’s very funny and kids will love this….. Thanks for the excellent review.
It’s funny that you had to make a Big Bird Cake for a party (I like Big Bird)!
Thanks! I’m glad that you liked the review!
Looks like a fun book. My son laughed at the pictures as I read your review. We’ll add this to our list. The app sounds fun. My son enjoys a good app.
The app is GREAT! I hope your son likes it!!
This book sure does sound funny! I think I remember reading it. Monsters don’t always have to be scary. 🙂
That’s a good lesson you said “monsters don’t always have to be scary” 🙂
This is a great one from when I was a kid! Grover was one of my favorite muppets and he always reminds me of my brother, Patrick, who could do a mean Grover impression.
Grover is pretty cool! Did you ever notice he sounds like Yoda?
This was one of my favorite books when I was young. I still have my copy! Thanks for adding it to the list.
It is a great book! Thanks for commenting!! 🙂
Thanks for a great review, Erik! There is obviously something very timeless about the Muppets…my kids loved them over 30 years ago…and my 3 year old grandson thinks they are the best!
The muppets are great!
Hey! I’ve had that book for years! I liked it when I was younger and my brothers still like it!
It is an awesome book (and funny) 🙂