Monster Goose

Would not recommend for children

Apparently this is either a love it or hate it book, so add me to the former. As to the scary illustrations, look at the cover. It is very indicative of the style of illustrations inside, so anyone who is suprised that this *monster* book has monsterous illustrations wasn't paying attention to the front. What are they supposed to look like, Care Bears? And as to the dangerous issues of ingesting gasoline and turpintine, I just used it as an educational experience and told my son that since these were made up creatures they could do unreal things, like drink poison, which we as humans could never, ever do because we could die. And, wonder of wonders, he got it. Have a little faith in your kids to separate fantasy from reality - if they can't, you have no business reading them monster books anyway. This is a very clever, fun book and I wish it had been even longer. We got it first from the library but bought our own copy after the first reading because it is one that we parents don't get bored with reading over and over. The rhymes are great and there is always some new detail to discover in the pictures.

As the mother of a very imaginative young poet who also likes Emily Dickinson, we found this book to be delightful. Having read so very many rhyming book that were beginning to become blaze this was a refreshing change. She still sings the rhymes and so does her older sister. We would recommend this book to anyone with an imagination.

It is always a relief for me to read a childrens book that credits children with the experience and imagination to delight in references to things slimey, disgusting or horror-ful without wanting to get the Bounty and the Raid and make it nice. There are no more eager participants in the imaginative exploration of the gross and horrifying than those of the younger members of our species. Unimpaired by experience, not yet socially sanitized, but trusting the covers of a book, children eagerly go with Sierra to that edge between fantasy and reality for the thrill of the near but safely missed slip into true horrors. So if Barny and Mister Rogers kind of make you want to throw up, get down with the kids like Ms. Sierra does and wollow in the splendidly delightful illustrations of Mr. Davis.

There she is, Monster Goose, looking at first glance, quite benign. But take a closer look and she's got a rather evil glint in her eye, sitting with her laptop, tapping away and nursery rhymes, as we know them, will never be the same. She's filled her poems with monsters, zombies, rodents and ghouls, creepy crawlies, maggots, slime and other assorted disgusting creatures and goo. Mary no longer has a little lamb, but a vampire bat and the old lady in the shoe has turned into a zombie..."She had so many maggots, she didn't know what to do." Come meet Cannibal Horner, who bites off his own thumb, Weird Mother Hubbard and Werewolf Bo-Peep. And if you're looking for a lullaby, try Hush Little Monster, (don't you whine), Sing A Song of Sea Slime or Twinkle, Twinkle Little Slug..... Judi Sierra has give old Mother Goose a nice Halloween twist, with this marvelously clever, irreverent book of verse. Her entertaining and engaging rhymes are depicted in Jack Davis' bold, bright and expressive illustrations and his busy artwork and attention to detail will have both youngsters and adults giggling and laughing out loud. This is a unique and truly ingenious collection that can be shared and enjoyed by everyone in the family. So don't wait for Halloween, Monster Goose is a wonderful read any and every day of the year.

Perfect for Halloween, for any child (or adult!) who enjoys a clever turn of phrase and monster rhymes, this hilarious poetry collection take off on classic Mother goose is a riot from start to finish. Touted as a picture book for ages 5 to 8, this 45 year old laughed out loud at nearly every page. Whether your funny bone is tickled by "Jill and Jacques, who went to the Loch" and their meeting with the infamous Loch Ness inhabitant, or Mary who took her bat to school and had a much better adventure than Mary with her lamb, or Cannibal Horner and his people pot pie, there are plent of laughs just waiting to be had. The illustrations are a perfect complement to the ghoulish subject matter. Don't wait for Hallowen to buy this one!