The Monster & Me™ series is a 2015 Silver Moonbeam Children's Book Award winner for Best Picture Book Series
"A rhyming bullying tale with some worthwhile lessons." —Kirkus Reviews
"Monster is off to school, reluctantly for sure. After all, he is 'blue and hairy.’ What if he gets teased? Another rollicking addition to Czajak’s series, Monster Needs to Go to School is a great book for teachers and parents to address the 'beginning school jitters.'"—Ellen Fischer, author of If an Elephant Went to School
"...the perfect introduction for easing 'First Time at School' jitters. It will be a favorite long after school has begun."—Darlene Beck-Jacobson, blogger and author of Wheels of Change
"This latest entry into the Monster & Me series takes a fun look at starting school, giving little ones who may be getting ready for Pre-K or Kindergarten an idea of what to expect (and reinforcing these ideas for kids already in daycare and pre-k programs): learning the ABCs, raising your hand when you want to speak, and inviting others to play at recess."—Mom Read It
"...tackles a big issue with tact, fun, and creativity. The rhyme scheme employed simply adds to the merriment without overpowering the messages it is conveying."—Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
"I was happy about the diversity of the children and adults in the book. I loved that it addresses bullying, a topic we have been talking about at home. Monster won’t play with some kids until they stop being bullies, so they stop! ... Thumbs up for Monster!" —I Love Kids Books
"Mr. Czajak skillfully points out that being a bystander is just about as bad as being a bully. Ms. Grieb’s illustrations create a sense of liveliness, and are very colorful." —This Kid Reviews Books
"Being afraid of school as a first-time student can be pretty stressful. ... Learning to deal with these issues can be smooth or fraught with stumbling blocks (rocks, tears, punches, whatever). But when you've a friend like Monster then things go much better." —Chat With Vera
"Monster Needs to Go to School continues the series’ themes of reinforcing proper behaviors, relationship skills, friendship, and compassion. Grieb’s digital illustrations once again elevate the Monster & Me™ series with bright, interesting scenes, punctuated with the small details I love to see. Distinctive facial features best express the emotions and reactions of Grieb’s diverse classroom of kids. Those lucky enough to have the Monster & Me™ books will love Monster Needs to Go to School." —Kid Lit Reviews
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Praise for the Monster & Me™ series
Monster Needs Your Vote:
"Playful rhyming text and comically overblown rhetoric (oratory skills, platform, grassroots movement) combined with colorful digital illustrations exemplify the intricacies of being a candidate and the importance of the democratic process. The extra bonus is that after a couple of missteps, Monster hits his stride by campaigning to save libraries. VERDICT A good introduction to what happens on a campaign, how voting for a president works, and the dynamics of civic engagement."—School Library Journal
"Monster has the best platform EVER in this furry fun first look at elections! (He had me at 'desserts'—then it got even better!) Monster Needs Your Vote has mine!"—Ame Dyckman, New York Times bestselling author of Wolfie the Bunny
Monster Needs a Party:
"Like the other Monster titles, the rhymes are fun and the illustrations are bursting with vivid colors and numerous details. Further, the lessons are simple (be flexible, be persistent) and not overdone. The story reminds readers that life can be amazing if we are positive and open to new possibilities. VERDICT An upbeat story that will appeal to all young children."—School Library Journal
"Playful, charming, and featuring exuberant, colorful illustrations, Monster Needs a Party is pure fun to read aloud and share."—The Midwest Book Review, Children's Bookwatch
Monster Needs a Christmas Tree:
"Sendakesque ... The cute finale brings to mind Charlie Brown ... As before, Czajak and Grieb make Monster's perpetual overexcitement palpable and identifiable."—Booklist
"...[P]roviding children with a valuable lesson in persistence and determination. ... The Monster & Me series is going strong and, from all indications, has a long life ahead of it."—Foreword Reviews, 5 Star Review
Monster Needs His Sleep:
“Czajak and Grieb pair up once again for a hilarious take on the many creative ways a monster attempts to avoid bedtime. …Sure to be a welcome choice for the going-to-bed time that never seems to end.” —Kirkus Reviews
"Featuring an endearing character children will adore, this imaginative book will be hard to put down...even at bedtime!" — Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, author of Pirate Princess and Chicks Run Wild
Monster Needs a Costume:
"...Given the jaunty flow of the story and the humorous details on every page, put this at the top of the list for unscary options come October." —Kirkus Reviews
"The rhymes, quite obviously, are bouncy and irreverent, and just as much heck is raised by Grieb’s cartoony illustrations of the enormous, blue, horned beast with the happy underbite..." —Booklist
08/01/2016
PreS-Gr 1—Czajak and Grieb's newest installment in their series addresses the topic of first day of school jitters and playground bullying. After much convincing and reassurance from the school-age boy narrator, Monster agrees that he does have a lot to learn and gets on the bus to go to school with his human. In art, music, and French class, Monster proudly enjoys all that he is absorbing at school, even though he self-consciously stands out among classmates. Initially afraid of being teased by bullies himself, particularly because he's "blue and very hairy," Monster is able to stand up to his friends when they become the bullies. At recess Monster notices children teasing one another and he quickly speaks up: "I know we're friends, but teasing's wrong./It's something I despise./No one should be ridiculed. There is no compromise." Grieb's fun, animated, and bold illustrations are vivid and packed with detail for lively visual impact. However, the rhyming text, while playful and feel-good, is somewhat forced and uninspired. Further, the message about how to deal with bullies is handled in a quick and facile manner. VERDICT Order where the earlier titles in the series are popular. An additional purchase for most libraries.—Brianne Colombo, Pequannock Township Public Library, NJ
2016-05-04
Monster and his little boy tackle Monster's first day of school.The big blue beast, resembling one of Sendak's Wild Things, is a quivering mess at the thought of school, but he quickly settles in and begins to learn and enjoy himself—until he observes his classmates bullying another kid, that is. "He made some friends at recess, who invited him to play. / But when he saw them teasing, he spoke up without delay. / ‘I know we're friends, but teasing's wrong. / It's something I despise, / No one should be ridiculed. There is no compromise.' " At these words, his new friends change their ways. Readers may point out that it's easy for a big blue monster to stand up to bullies but harder for regular kids, but the fact that Monster has feelings just like them will go a long way to making this credible, and Czajak spells it out when he writes "The teasing stopped when Monster / said he wouldn't go along." Grieb's digital artwork plays up Monster's size and expressions, and the class is diverse. Young readers may need their own educations to tackle some of the vocabulary here—"motivation," "pursue," "monumental"—and the rhyming text sometimes stumbles. Still, Monster's message is an important one, and his boy has a valuable point: "It's hard to deal with bullies, even harder / when they're friends."A rhyming bullying tale with some worthwhile lessons. (Picture book. 4-8)
