The Monster Who Ate My Peas

What a great book! Kids will love it cuz it relates to their daily frustrations of doing things that they aren't fond of, and connects with the things kids do to get out of what is expected of them. In the end, the boy in the story learns that taking the easy road lost him some things that meant the world to him, and stole the opportunity he had for enjoying the peas he wouldn't give a chance. Parents will like the book: 1) because the story rhymes and is, actually, enjoyable to read aloud and with inflection; and, 2) it shows "little rebels" that being stubborn and taking the easy road in life can come back to haunt you! Both parent and child will like the imaginative steps taken to teach the lesson, the happy ending, and the wonderful illustrations! This is a book that can be read over and over and over, and enjoyed every time! I keep going to the library to check it out again and again; and, more often than not, it is not available! Enjoy!

After hearing Mr. Schnitzlein read his story in person at the school in which I teach, I just HAD to buy it. The students LOVED it, as well as the adults in the room. This book is a breath of fresh air and the illustrations are wonderful! I highly recommend this book to kids of ALL ages!!! Two thumbs up, Mr. Schnitzlein and Mr. Faulkner!

My family and I were fortunate enough to get to meet Mr. Schnitzlein at a ceremony at my son's school and hear a live reading of the book. My 11-year old son, one of the oldest kids present, begged for a copy of his own (although it is really written for a younger age group)! We thoroughly enjoyed the book as well as Mr. Schnitzlein's very entertaining presentation and the "writer's workshop" he gave to the children. The characters in his book (even the monster) are as warm and inviting as the author himself. The plot kept even the adults on the edge of their seats, and the laughter never stopped from first page to last. We can hardly wait for the next book to emerge from the very creative mind of this author.

The rhyme, the subject and the illustrations are a perfect marriage in this book. Children ask for it to be read over and over again. They clamor at the end that there's more monsters waiting for him to trade again. And then they are eager to share just what they'd be willing to trade in order to not have to clean the toilet or eat their liver or whatever disgusts them. It's a great story to break the ice with kids and even to read using voices. Publishers Weekly has no clue about what appeals to kids- the Lima Bean Monster is a shelf sitter and the illustrations do nothing to excite kids about the story. Use this book instead and your kids will be begging for another story like it. I can't wait to see the new book being published by this author and hope the illlustrator will be right there with him to turn kids into readers.