Skip to main content

Review: Monsters at Christmas

Written by Laura Baker 
Illustrated by Nina Dzyvulska 
Beverly, MA: Quarto Publishing Group, 2023. Picture Book. 

Monsters at Christmas is a rhyme-y snapshot of what makes the holiday season so very merry and bright. Whether playing in the snow or drinking cocoa by the fire, these zany monsters are having ALL the fun! And they have a few tricks up their sleeves when it comes to presents, not to mention Santa Monster’s sleigh and jingle-y reindeer. These colorful characters decorate their houses, make special food, give gifts, attend performances, and celebrate the joy they feel by being together. Page after page of wintery fun, the playful high-jinx never stop.  

If you are looking for a high energy bop of a Christmas book, then you’ll enjoy Monsters at Christmas. The simple line illustrations contain easily recognizable colors and shapes to practice with younger children, while the sheer volume of activities and stunts might give older kids an idea or two to add to your family’s holiday traditions. If you have any kooky Christmas monsters at your house, this book is sure to be a hit. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Painting for Peace in Ferguson

Painting for Peace in Ferguson By Carol Swartout Klein Treehouse Publishing Group, 2015. Nonfiction. When the city of Ferguson was overrun with so much hate and despair that homes and businesses had to be boarded up to protect property, citizens of the community decided to bring a message of hope by painting the boarded windows. Klein’s rhyming text supports the photographs of the hundreds of artists and volunteers and their artwork as they bring the messages of peace, hope, love, and that by being united they can make a difference. A great book to show children how a community rallied to make a positive change and that even a small gesture can make a huge difference. A great discussion opener on how we should treat each other.

Dragon Run

Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews Scholastic, 2013.  336 pgs.  Fantasy      Al Pilgrommor is excited for Testing Day, when he will receive his rank, a tattooed number on the back of his neck, and a path forward to his future occupation and life.  He feels confident because his parents were fours on a scale of seven, but he is worried for his friend Wisp who doesn't have much of a chance of scoring above a two at best. But when Al is scored a zero, he not only has no prospects, he may lose his life as the dreaded Cullers are unleashed to kill him and his family to purify the land's bloodlines.  Al's world is ruled by dragons--the lords and supposed creators of humankind--so he thinks that even if he survives, he will have to make his living as a beggar or thief. But when Al sticks up for his Earther friend in front of Magister Ludi, he is drawn into the struggle of a secret organization hoping to destroy the Cullers, and perhaps the dragons them...

De la hora del cuento: Semana 8 de verano

  Cuentos Quizás algo hermoso Escrito por F. Isabel Campoy y Theresa Howell Ilustrado por Rafael López Boston ; New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018. Libro ilustrado. "Viendo lo que Mira y sus vecinos descubren, ¡más de lo que nunca pudo imaginarse! Basado en una historia real, "Quizás algo hermoso" nos revela cómo el arte puede inspirar la transformación -- y cómo incluso la más pequeña artista puede llegar a conseguir algo grande. ¡Toma un pincel y únete a la celebración!" --Editor Cuentitos ¿Dónde estás, Cerdito? Por Margarita Del Mazo y Laure du Fay Madrid, Spain: NubeOcho, 2021. Pequeño libro ilustrado. "¿Alguien ve un cerdito por aquí? ¡Shhh! Creo que está en el árbol ..." --Editor