Journey through the alphabet with mythical creatures as they confront real-life challenges. From anxious aliens to zoned-out zombies, this vibrant hand
illustrated book combines fantasy and empathy with clever vocabulary to create a world where monsters are a lot like us. Delight in this story from the author of
"Monsters Need Breaks Too!" and continue the fun with these relatable whimsical mythical creatures!
Journey through the alphabet with mythical creatures as they confront real-life challenges. From anxious aliens to zoned-out zombies, this vibrant hand
illustrated book combines fantasy and empathy with clever vocabulary to create a world where monsters are a lot like us. Delight in this story from the author of
"Monsters Need Breaks Too!" and continue the fun with these relatable whimsical mythical creatures!
The oldest alphabet known dates back to 1538; however, it would take about 40 more years for an alphabet book to feature pictures. Since then, alphabet books have been available in various styles, covering a variety of themes. ABC books no longer just teach the 26 letters; they have a secondary purpose. For instance, they could be teaching the names of healthy foods, like A is for apple. They might center around jobs: B is for baker. Alphabet books even use popular TV or movie characters to help make connections from the individual's name to the corresponding letter, such as D is for Darth Vader. As a mother and educator, I thought I had seen every topic used in reference books. I thought wrong! Monster Problems A to Z showcases a unique blend of familiar and unfamiliar monster characters. The writer didn't merely state that A is for aliens; instead, they constructed a mini 2-page story, dedicating less than two dozen words per monster. Since the word count was low, it was imperative every word, especially the monster names, were spelled accurately. Unfortunately, I found a few editing mistakes.
I questioned if the text was too advanced for the recommended reading age of 1-8 years. I don't imagine many children or parents are using xenial, haughtiness, or onerous in everyday speech. And I would be amazed if this age bracket knew the meaning of imposter syndrome. Even though the text might be too advanced for children under 6, the images were not. While some kids might label the monsters 'weird-looking,' I can practically hear them laughing at the ogre's hanging booger and at the yeti who stepped in chewing gum.
Talking about one's feelings and problems can be a scary thought. Most people don't know how to start the conversation. I applaud the writer for formulating a book that shows monsters dealing with issues we might be experiencing: jealousy, loneliness, worry, and frustration, to name a few. Hopefully after reading this book, your child or class will be inspired to share their feelings, taking the first step towards good mental health.
This therapeutic book would make a great addition to any class, a child's therapist's office, or a home library. Even though the starring cast is monsters, it can be read any day of the year!