Monsterly Books For October

With Halloween just around the corner, I thought I would gather a list of monster books for children to feature for today, October the 13th, especially since it seems like every time I turn around, I see a new monster book coming out soon. Hope you enjoy the list (23 titles).

FUTURE TITLES:

The Monstore by Tara Lazar (Aladdin/ Simon & Schuster, Summer 2013)

The Onster by Tiffany Strelitz Haber (Henry Holt/ Macmillan, Spring 2012)

Monster Speller by Robert Marsh (Stone Arch Books, 2011)

10 RECENT TITLES:
Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matthew McElligott

(Walker Books for Young Readers, July 2010)

Just before midnight, on the night of a full moon, a young barber stays out past his bedtime to go to work. Although his customers are mostly regulars, they are anything but normal - after all, even monsters need haircuts. Business is steady all night, and this barber is prepared for anything with his scissors, rotting tonic, horn polish, and stink wax. It's a tough job, but someone's got to help these creatures maintain their ghoulish good looks. This is a story about a boy who follows in his father's footsteps...in his own monstrously unique way.

Bedtime Monster by Heather Ayris Burnell

(Raven Tree Press, September 2010)

A little boy does not want to go to bed and throws a tantrum. He grows horns and a tail until his parents tame the little bedtime monster.

If You're A Monster And You Know It

by Rebecca Emberley

(Orchard Books, September 2010)

Children will stomp their paws, twitch their tails, snort and growl, and wiggle and wriggle along with this bright and bold picture book twist on "If You're Happy and You Know It." Rebecca Emberley has written a rollicking text, which she has illustrated in collaboration with her father, Caldecott Medalist Ed Emberley.

Mostly Monsterly

by Tammi Sauer, Scott Magoon (Illustrator)

(Paula Wiseman/ Simon & Schuster, August 2010)

Bernadette might seem like an ordinary monster, but sometimes she likes to do some very unmonsterlike things, like pick flowers. And pet kittens. And bake.When the time comes for Bernadette to go to Monster Academy, she's just a teensy bit nervous. Her classmates just don't understand her. They'd rather uproot trees than sing friendship songs. And they prefer fried snail goo to Bernadette's homemade cupcakes with sprinkles. Can Bernadette find a way to make friends at school and still be herself?

Monsters Eat Whiny Children

by Bruce Eric Kaplan
(Simon and Schuster, August 2010)


When Henry and Eve whine too much it only means one thing - the monsters will come to eat them!

Welcome to Monster Town

by Ryan Heshka

(Henry Holt and Company, July 2010)

As soon as the sun sets on Monster Town, creatures of all kinds go to work. So hop on the Ghoul Bus and see for yourself who inhabits this ghoulish town. Dr. Cyclops, Postmaster Skeleton, Frank N. Stein, Dr. Mummy, Captain Witch, and many other monster friends—including a junior monster-in-training—will welcome you with open arms!

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Alpha Oops: H is for Halloween (Alphaoops!)

by Alethea Kontis, Bob Kolar (Illustrator)

(Candlewick Press, July 2010)

Ack! It’s time for the show, and A isn’t ready. But then again, Halloween can only start with one letter, no matter how the A-B-Cs normally go! The misbehaving alphabet is back, and there’s no telling who will take the stage next. Z for zombie? P for pirate? Will X think of something good in time? Neon-bright, comically detailed illustrations show a cacophony of costumed letters, each with a mind and personality all its own. Along the bottom, tiny pumpkins arrange the players in proper order, making this alphabet story letter-perfect for Halloween.

  

The Patterson Puppies and the Midnight Monster Party

by Leslie Patricelli

(Candlewick Press, May 2010)

Petra is afraid of the monster that comes out in the dark. Luckily her very supportive — and very spirited — siblings find a way to turn fear into fun!Every night, in the middle of the night, Petra wakes up. She’s afraid of the dark. She’s afraid of the noises. But most of all, she afraid of the monster. Her brothers and sister always sleep all night long, and Mama and Papa tell Petra she’ll be just fine. But Petra is still scared, so Andy, Penelope, and Zack decide to help her out. Will a T. rex scare the monster away? A magic wand? Sixteen favorite stuffed animals? What could possibly placate a hungry monster in the middle of the night?

I Need My Monster

by Amanda Noll, Howard McWilliam

(Flashlight Press, 2009)

**This book is a hoot! A lovely read-aloud to any child that has ever thought about a monster under a bed. Funny, clever, and satisfying.**   A unique monster-under-the-bed story with the perfect balance of giggles and shivers, this picture book relies on the power of humor over fear, appeals to a child’s love for creatures both alarming and absurd, and glorifies the scope of a child’s imagination. One night, when Ethan checks under his bed for his monster, Gabe, he finds a note from him instead: "Gone fishing. Back in a week." Ethan knows that without Gabe’s familiar nightly scares he doesn't stand a chance of getting to sleep, so Ethan interviews potential substitutes to see if they've got the right equipment for the job—pointy teeth, sharp claws, and a long tail—but none of them proves scary enough for Ethan. When Gabe returns sooner than expected from his fishing trip, Ethan is thrilled. It turns out that Gabe didn't enjoy fishing because the fish scared too easily.

There Was An Old Monster!

by Rebecca Emberley, Ed Emberley (Illustrator), Adrian Emberley

(Orchard Books, July 2009)

"There was an old monster who swallowed a tick I don't know why he swallowed that tick 'Cause it made him feel sick! When he swallowed some ants, he danced in his pants."

He swallowed a lizard, a bat, a jackal, and a bear. Then he tried to swallow a lion . . . ROAR!--Now that monster is no more! Children will laugh along with the funny text, bright bold illustrations, and delightful song (available on the Scholastic website).