Night of the Veggie Monster

I just borrowed this from the Library today and my 2 and 4 year old sons loved it! My 4 year old had me read it to him several times and he was cracking up through the whole book. We'll definitely be purchasing a copy for ourselves!

I am a Kindergarten teacher and after I read this book to my students, I ended up purchasing multiple copies to share with them. I love this book! My students love this book! I highly recommend this book!!!

I can relate to kids who don't like their vegetables. I've been slow in coming around myself. As a kid, I was known to pull the old switcharoo and hide the veggies in the nearest napkin. "Night of the Veggie Monster" uses humor, inventive illustrations, and descriptive language in an attempt to reach kids who don't like the green stuff. The story is told from the perspective of our unnamed protagonist and veggie disliker. Upon receiving his dinner plate containing three peas, his "we've been through this before" parents know what to expect. Our hero tries one of the peas and the transformation begins. Wiggly fingers, curled up toes, and watery eyes all lead up to the main event: full fledged veggie monster. The change does not last long however, as the monster eventually swallows said pea, realizing that maybe they're not as bad as he first thought. The way the main character deals with the consumption of a solitary pea is something kids will identify with: As the pea rests in my mouth, my eyes begin to water. That's a great line, and one that true veggie haters will relate to. You don't want to touch the food with your tongue, you don't want to chew, you just kind of let it rest there in your mouth while you figure out what to do next. The mixed media illustrations stand out for their originality. McClements creates a world where photographs mingle with simple line drawings. The characters appear to be drawn on brown paper, cut out, and placed in their surroundings. It's a unique touch. While I have yet to test it out, "Night of the Veggie Monster" is a likely pick for storytime. It's vivid descriptions are ripe for the interpretin'. A solid picture book selection.

I bought this book today and was fortunate enough to have the author/illustrator autograph it and read it at our local children's bookstore. My son loved it so much that he requested it again tonight at bedtime. The little boy in the story does not like vegetables, and with just one taste of a tiny pea, he turns into a veggie monster. Of course, he doesn't literally become a monster, but his eyes start to water, and he squirms and wiggles and twists until he falls out of his chair and swallows the pea. He discovers that "It tasted all right, really." He decides that peas are okay, but danger lurks just around the corner because on the next night, he's served... broccoli! My son laughed at all the silly motions, and I laughed at the parents' conversation that McClements managed to sneak in. Overall, this is a really fun book!

A truly great book for children of all eating habits. Both my children (2 and 4 years old) really enjoy the story and colorful illustrations. Not only does it make bedtime reading more fun, but I've noticed that both children are playfully more adventurous in trying new foods - especially vegetables. I hope there is a sequel: "night of the picking up my room monster!"