The Monster at the end of This Book by: Jon Stone and illustrated by: Maurice Sendak

Loveable and furry Grover is troubled to discover that there is a monster at the end of this book. Fearful of reaching the end of the book, Grover constructs a series of obstacles to prevent the reader from proceeding. He urges the reader not to turn to the next page, because each page turned brings the reader closer to the monster at the end of the book. Increasingly frightened, and in amazement at the reader’s strength to overcome the obstacles he has created, Grover begs the reader to stop reading the book to avoid the monster. Grover is surprised to discover who is the monster at the end of the book!

The Monster at the end of This Book was my favorite book when I was a child. It is engaging and interactive. I like the fact that the author has Grover directly address the reader. The text is full of energy, and the words seem to jump out from the pages. The book grabs the readers’ attention from the very first line, with Grover teasing your curiosity about a potential monster at the end of the book. The illustrations are colorful and vivid. The bright colors and action in the pictures makes for a fun read. The illustrations are simple, but are cute and catch the reader’s attention. Each picture clearly mirrors what the text is saying. The illustrator does a great job showing Grover’s emotions in the pictures. Lessons of caring, trust, and facing our fears (especially of monsters) are found in this book. The concept of making independent decisions is also well executed. Although The Monster at the end of This Book is best suited for toddler and preschool age, I think it is a fun book for children of any age and adults alike. This is a book that you will read over and over again.