Yea! It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday which is hosted by Susanna Leonard Hill. After you read about my pick for today, you really should head on over to Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and check out all the fantastic Perfect Picture Book Selections! Each book is reviewed by a picture book -lovin’ reviewer, AND includes activities to go along with the book. You will find a handy list right HERE.
Time Out For Monsters
Written by Jean Reidy
Illustrated by Robert Neubecker
Disney-Hyperion 2012
Ages 3 – 7
Themes: Imagination, Monsters
Synopsis: (School Library Journal) “Directed to the time-out corner by a pointed finger, a boy contemplates ways to spruce up the place since he spends so much time there. How about a little color? A window? Dinosaurs would be nice. A monster truck? Why the possibilities are endless when you use your imagination. And Mom will love it. A dragon big enough for a foldout, a dump truck full of ice cream, a throne, noisy fire engines, and lots and lots of cupcakes add to the fun. Alas, the pointed finger returns, this time with a bucket and cloth. Neubecker’s large, imaginative illustrations grab readers and hold on tight throughout this bright, bold romp. Energetic and appealing to young artists everywhere, this one is a winner.”
Opening: There’s a corner in my house that needs some fixing up….
Mom says it’s fine, but I know better. I spend a lot of time there. It needs a little color…
Resources: Click HERE to view an amazingly comprehensive Curriculum Guide found on Jean Reidy’s website.
Why I Like This Book: Well, I’ve yet to meet a kid who hasn’t seen a little time out? The kid in this story seems very familiar with time out, and I love that he remodels his time out space…kind of like a kid taking over Home and Garden TV. The text and illustrations are perfectly matched as they should be in a picture book that begs to be read again and again. I’m a fan of books that explore imagination and this one delivers. It also delivers plenty of laughs, and as my readers know, creatively funny picture books are my very favorite kind. I’d love to tell you about the last page, but I’ll just whisper this little thing in your ear, “Wait! Who made those footprints?”
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a monstrously marvelous Friday!
Penny Parker Klostermann 
This sounds like tons of fun, Penny! I love the idea of a kid remodeling his time out corner – so true, some of them do spend a lot of time there 🙂 Thanks for adding this one to our list!
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And he does all of his remodeling with tools found in any kid’s art supplies 🙂
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Great subject matter for a book for kids…what kid hasn’t spent at least a few minutes in a time-out. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this one, Penny…I will try to grab a copy. My 5 year old grandson will surely appreciate it…although as soon as his mom starts the count (to three, I guess…but it never goes past 1), Jeremy is no longer misbehaving.:)
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Ah! How nice to never go past 1! A lot of parents are already teaching fractions-
2 1/4, 2 1/2, 2 3/4, 2 7/8! Hee! Hee!
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Such a fun book. Read it last year. Nice review.
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Thanks, Darshana! I appreciate you stopping by! Don’t you just love PPBF? So many great books to put on my library list!
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This is one of our favorites. We love Jean Reidy’s books!
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Me too! She’s so talented!
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I love the cover, and the way the title is printed! 😀 I’ll be a searching for it! 😀
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The cover is cool, but wait until you see the fold out!
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Oh, I love Jean Reidy, but haven’t read this one. I hope our library has this. It is totally cracking me up. It reminds me of when my kids get a time out, and they go to their rooms and play happily with their toys. They are having too much fun but they are supposed to be “in trouble.”
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You should definitely find this one Kirsten! You will be cracking up! It’s such a creative book.
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My grandson would love this one. . .trucks of all kinds are tops on his list! Thanks, Penny!
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Well then… the fact that it has more than one truck in the illustrations should be a draw for your grandson. There are a ton of other things in the illustrations that I think he’ll love!
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This book sounds like such fun! When I think of the corner I used to occasionally have to sit in (for no good reason, I’m sure… 😉 ) it could have used a little sprucing up!
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Ha! Then you’ll like how this kid spruces up!
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Wow, I am so impressed with the curriculum guide, I almost want to buy the book to be able to use that!
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I was very impressed, too! It is an extremely comprehensive! Lots of great ideas.
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What a hilarious book. After spending a week overseas visiting my four young nephews I am well aware of the use of “time out.” Wish I knew about this book earlier. The boys would love it! Thanks, Penny!
(ps you might be interested in my holiday blog-post coming up in a couple of days)
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You will have to get it and take it with you next time! I look forward to your post!
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Kids and their imaginations! A beautiful thing. I don’t spend much time in time out, but I know about spiffing up your space. I do try to do that and the Mom Person shakes her head a lot. This sounds like a really fun book. I’ll have to check it out!
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I’ll bet you do like to spiff up your space 🙂 And I can see Mom Person shaking her head. It’s a fun book. It may give you a few extra ideas for spiffing up your space.
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I love books that show a child using his/her imagination! What a great time-out activity. Kids will love the humor in this book. The cover is really great! Am envious of those who write humor well.
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If you like the cover, you’re going to be engrossed in the illustrations. They are stare-worthy!
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this sounds fun! and who DID leave those footprints, anyway?
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Ok…since it’s down here in the comments, maybe not too many people will see this spoiler. Even though he’s drawn all the stuff on the wall there are monster footprints heading across the floor as if a real monster had been in the corner with him. It’s really cute!
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Jean is a real nice lady too!
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She is! She is so sweet! And super talented!
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I’ve heard of this book, but had no idea what it was about. What a hilarious idea. Thanks for the great review, Penny.
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Very cute idea that brings the humor!
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This book sounds like such a winner. Great review!
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Thanks! It’s a winner for sure. In fact, I think all of her books are winners. Excellent books to study for us picture book writers.
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