Some parents have the misconception that their children are going to turn out to be little versions of themselves. Perhaps in the beginning this happens, but after a while our children become their own people, and we have to accept and celebrate their individuality.
Today's picture book is about three monsters who set about creating a big monster. They intend for him to be a bigger version of themselves, but they find out that sometimes one cannot anticipate how a creation is going to turn out.
Patrick McDonnell
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Little Brown, 2012, 978-0-316-04547-6
Grouch, Grump, and Gloom ‘n’ Doom are three little
monsters who live in a suitably dark and dank castle, and who make a point of
being as unpleasantly monsterish as possible. The one thing that they have in
common is that they cannot agree which of them is “the biggest, baddest
monster,” and this causes no end of trouble and countless brawls.
Finally, the
monsters decide that the solution to their problem is to create a “MONSTER
monster. The biggest, baddest monster EVER!” They build their creature, and
then with the help of a convenient lightning strike, they bring him to life.
The three monsters are thrilled with their creation. Now, at last, they know
which of them is “the biggest, baddest monster.” Their monster is going to be a
credit to monsterdom, and he is going to leave chaos in his wake. It never
occurs to them that their plan might not work out the way they expect it to.
Young readers
are going to love this clever and unusual story with its heartwarming and
surprising ending. They will see how even the best laid plan can backfire, and
how, in this case at least, the problem turns out to be an unexpected gift.
No comments:
Post a Comment