The Big Ugly Monster and the Little Stone Rabbit

I absolutely loved this book and was surprised to see the negative reviews - yes, on the surface it may seem depressing, but if one actually thinks about it (I don't think the negative reviewers did), it is a beautiful story about finding happiness where one can. Good lesson for us all. After all, we are not all beautiful with perfect lives...and somehow hopefully manage to be happy nevertheless. My kids are 3 and 5 and they loved this book too - it is written with humor and sensitivity, and has great illustrations. If you only like schmaltzy fairy tale happy endings this book may not be for you, but if you like a book you can actually think about, you might love it like I did!

I absolutely loved this book, and I was sorry to see how many very negative reviews there were for it. The premise of the book is that there lived a monster who was so ugly that nothing living could bear to be around him, so he carves a rabbit out of stone, which becomes his sole, life-long friend. There is a lot of humor in the descriptions of how ugly the monster is, and how he interacts with his rabbit friend. Some of that is laugh-out-loud funny. The illustrations are fantastic. But what makes this book so wonderful is how it depicts that real happiness can be found in unexpected places. My children are young - 2, 3 and 5, and they really like this book too, although on a less complex level. It gives a great springboard to talk about some things on a level they can understand - being different, finding friends, the importance of friendship, what you need to be happy, aging, and even why the monster didn't come out of his cave one day. Please don't listen to the negative reviews, and give this book a try! I think it is probably the most touching children's book I have ever read.

This is a beautiful book, well written with a lot of very interesting ideas put forward. The at the first reading, the Big Ugly Monster seemed alot like radioactive waste that destroys any container that holds it. Finally, only something made perfectly by the Big Ugly Monster can contain it, and long outlast the monster. In the end the Little Stone Rabbit is probably more impervious than Yucca Mountain and would be an ideal candidate for lining the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor).

The ugly monster that no one can stand to be around creates something of enduring beauty. I can't quite put my finger on it, but this book is full of unconditional love, enduring friendship, and splendid memories of the monster after it passes away. For me, this is a reassuring and beautiful book and is perfect for a borderline athestist parent.

This is one of the simplest, most beautiful books ever written. Those who have given it poor reviews at best lack understanding, at worst lack soul. Or maybe it just reflects the difference between the European view of the world and the North American one. The monster couldn't have made very good statues of them at all, as they would have been such a blur in the distance as soon as they saw him. This book is the children's book equivalent of John Lennon's 'Imagine' - if you prefer Britney, you'll agree with the other reviews. Open your heart, open your mind, read and understand.