Susanna Leonard Hill features Perfect Picture Book Friday on her blog. This is a wonderful resource if you are wondering what books to give as gifts, needing material for a lesson, or just looking for a great book to read. Here is a list of books by category. Each book listed has a link to a review, information about that book, and resources for activities. There is also an alphabetical list.
Now for this week’s review!
Written by Tiffany Strelitz Haber
Illustrated by Kirstie Edmunds
Henry Holt and Co. 2012
Ages: 4-8
Themes: Monsters, Friendship, Belonging
Synopsis: (from Tiffany Strelitz Haber’s site) The Monster Who Lost His Mean, is a fun, rhyming picture book about a monster who lost his “M.” When his “M” goes missing, his “meanness” and monster friends do too! This picture book tells the story of how sometimes, when things get lost, bigger and better things can be found.
Opening Lines:
Monsters are a spooky bunch—
a scary, hairy group.
They run in packs, leave giant tracks,
and dine on eyeball soup.
Mean, Observant, Noisy,
super Strong, and Tough-to-please,
Envious, Remarkable,
a monster’s all of these!
One day, a monster’s M went missing,
gone without a trace!
And every M is custom-made,
the kind you can’t replace.
Here is a book trailer that came out before the book was released, but you can’t miss it! It is too cute!
Resources: Tiffany has activites on her site. HERE is a coloring page. And HERE is a maze. HERE is page to talk about Onster’s feelings and let children share their own feelings with a drawing. And since the beginning of the book gives a descriptive word for each letter in the word Monster, it would fit in nicely to let children come up with descriptive words for each letter of their name for an acrostic activity.
Why I Like This Book: What’s not to like???? The rhyme is perfection and all kinds of fun! The illustrations are colorful and delightful. And, most important, the book tells a great story of a monster who who loses his mean and doesn’t miss it after all.
And since I think this book is EXCELLENT, I had to have a little fun with my review and do an acrostic of my own.
Every line and every rhyme—impeccable and fun.
Xtra-special illustrations hit a BIG home run.
Charming Onster steals your heart and you’ll be filled with pride,
Extolling choices that he makes, his meanness put aside.
Laughter and delight will reign when reading it aloud,
Leading to demands of, “More!” from the happy crowd.
Eventually you’ll close the book and sit and think and smile—
Not missing Onster’s “M” at all and
Thrilled by Onster’s style.
I’m adding this to my library list. I like the maze activity too.
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Thanks, Stacy! Glad to hear it!
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You’ll love it Stacy. It is one of those picture books I will study…it’s perfection!
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I am just discovering this!!! Thank you all so much!!!! xoxoxoxo
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Wait. The comment above is from me! I was somehow logged in as “Kid Lit Resources For Teachers”??? Fascinating! HA. Anyway…thanks so much everyone for all the kind words!! You rock.
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Yeah…that was really weird. It’s like I was getting an entire FB conversation in my blog or something. Anyhow…I just was thinking my blog had been attacked by really nice hackers! I’m glad to know it’s you. I had fun doing the review.
I’m sitting at my parents house (in Colorado…yes!!) and my mom is reading your book! It’ so funny you commented right when she is reading it! She had read a couple of others I brought with me…she just looked up and said, “Now the rhyme in this book is excellent!” She’s a retired first grade teacher and loves your book!!!!
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Loves your Mom so much!!! Big hugs!!
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This book looks so cute! I’m pinning it.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a sweet comment, Penny!
❀Barbara❀
Grade ONEderful
Ruby Slippers Blog Designs
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Your welcome, Barb! I am a retired teacher. I just know you would’ve been so fun to teach with. I taught PE and computer. Our first grade teachers were incredible….well, are incredible….they are still there. Your blog is ONEderful 🙂
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What an innovative concept for a book. We will have to check it out…literally.
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It’s fun….and to me a great study in the structure of a picture book.
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Tiffany is the queen of rhyme! Love the Onster!
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Her rhyme is delightful! We should get her a crown!
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I haven’t read any of Tiffany’s stories but this one makes me want to run out and get it. Love your clever and great acrostic poem. Are you able to just pump them out? 🙂
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From what I can tell…this is her first one out. She has another coming in 2013.
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Great poem and great book! I have to read it! 😀
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Thanks for coming by Erik! I think you’ll enjoy reading about Onster!
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I love your picks. Great review and the rhyming does sound pefect. So many ways to use this in the classroom. Liked your ideas and your acrostic poem! You are so good with poetry.
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Thank you, Patricia! Tiffany’s rhyme is spot on in my opinion!
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I can’t wait to get a hold of this book. Thanks for the review. Love your acrostic poem!
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Hi Darshana! Thanks for stopping by and reading about this cute little monster book! It really is a great book!
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Great rhymes- sounds like a great read-aloud, Penny!
Your acrostic is brilliant.
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Yes, Joanna, a great read-aloud. Lots of fun rhyme. In fact it would be great for teaching kids about meter and rhythm.
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The trailer is adorable and the book sounds GREAT. Can’t wait to read it. And your poem ain’t half bad either. 😉
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Isn’t that a great trailer? Love it! The book is even more adorable!!!
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Your poem is awesome, Penny! Such a talent you have for rhyme. I remember seeing a bit about this book a while ago and wanted to check it out. Thank you for the reminder.
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You must check it out! It’s a load of fun!
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Can’t believe you beat me to this book! I was going to post it next week! So you know I love your choice 🙂 And what an awesome acrostic poem – you’re amazing! Love that!
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Sorry!!!! I imagine your review would point out things I didn’t…and you get to write the rules…so you could duplicate!
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Adorable! I am going to pick up a copy for our library, too. A counselor can’t have too many friendship books and this one looks terrific. Thanks for the lead!
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Thanks for stopping by Barbara. This would be a great book to have in a school library! It could have lots of uses in the classroom.
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Great acrostic! So eager to hold this one in my own two hands!
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Thanks, Cathy! You’re going to love it…talented rhymer that you are 🙂
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Sold! You’ve totally convinced me this is awesome. I wouldn’t expect anything else from Tiffany. 🙂
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Thanks for reading my review, Catherine. She is so talented!!! I will look forward to her future books!
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Hi Penny, I work at Storypanda and we just published Tiffany’s new story on the iPad! It is called Hungry Harry and is about a monster who eats everything in alphabetical order. I’d love to tell you more.
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