The Little Shop of Monsters

May 11, 2015
In his first picture book, horror maestro Stine reins in the spookiness—but doesn’t abandon it, either. “If you think you’re brave enough, then come with me,” goads an unseen narrator before revealing a pet shop filled with monsters. A boy and girl stare at the creatures in the window: “I hope they don’t break the glass, jump out and EAT you. (Would that spoil your day?)” After the kids enter the store, Stine continues to tweak readers with playfully teasing parenthetical questions and comments. The narrator advises against shaking hands with a warty, green monster named Snacker, who snacks all day. Why? “Do you know his favorite snack food? (That’s right. Hands).” Working in mixed media, Brown humorously matches the creatures’ names and attributes to their physical appearances, creating a raucous crew of horned, clawed, fanged, bug-eyed, winged, scaly, and furry monsters in an array of patterns and colors. Readers looking for friendly, cuddly monsters should shop elsewhere—as Stine ominously reminds readers, “When you come to the Little Shop of Monsters, you don’t choose a monster... a monster chooses YOU!” Ages 3–6.

August 1, 2015
Two proven masters combine talents to produce a deliciously creepy mock-horror picture book. Stine, of Goosebumps fame, and Brown, of the popular Arthur series, challenge readers before the title page. "Pssssst...HEY, YOU! Are you afraid of MONSTERS? Do they make you SHIVER and SHAKE and shut your eyes really tight at night? / If you think you're brave enough, then come with me." A boy and a girl look in the window of the Little Shop of Monsters. The merchandise looks like an innocuous, ragtag bunch of rather friendly creatures, but the intrusive narrator delivers ominous warnings: "I hope they don't break the glass, jump out, and EAT you." Within the store, the girl looks to be the brave one, while the boy seems alarmed or at least wary. Caged monsters with arms outstretched and mouths in smiles (or perhaps evil grins) greet them. Their tour through the shop finds them face to face with a series of goofy monsters with silly, unthreatening names like Tina-Not-Ticklish. Brown uses colored pencils, watercolor, spray paint, and gouache in double-page spreads to show hulking, sometimes wild, but never terrifying monsters, while the text tries to convince readers that these are a fierce and threatening group. After all, "when you come to the Little Shop of Monsters, you don't CHOOSE a monster... / A MONSTER CHOOSES YOU!" Readers are sure to visit this shop again and again for its fantastical creatures and its slightly sinister tone. (Picture book. 4-8)

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September 1, 2015

K-Gr 3-In Stine's first picture book, an unseen narrator provides a tour of a pet shop stocked full of monsters. The spooky travelogue is peppered with slightly sinister asides, such as "I hope they don't break the glass, jump out, and EAT you. (Would that spoil your day?)." Among the beasts eager to share your home is "Bubble-Belly Billy," a greedy-eyed, long-clawed snacker who is surrounded by bones and apple cores. "Yucky" and "Mucky" are phlegmy, green twins who like to stick together. With Venus Flytrap-like pinchers, "Squeezer" and "Teaser" pass the time by playing monster games. Brown's detailed mixed-media illustrations bring these crazy creatures, who gaze out directly at readers, to life. VERDICT Frightfully funny. Children will scream for repeated visits to The Little Shop of Monsters.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2015
Preschool-G A young brother and sister enter the Little Shop of Monsters to have a look at the many critters that inhabit the pet shop. As the narrator tells each monster's name and habits, the boy looks apprehensive while his younger sister appears enchanted and eager to enter the cages. Though most of the monsters are gross and gooey and slimy, they are not frightening in appearance, sporting bows, polka dots, stripes, or big toothy grins. The siblings leave without finding a monster to take home but with the promise (threat?) that perhaps a monster will find them instead. Great for storytime or one-on-one sharing, this tale begs for audience participation: Wipe the sneeze off this book, Are YOU ticklish? and QUICK! TURN THE PAGE! TURN IT FAST! Engaging illustrations, created using a variety of materials including watercolor, spray paint, colored pencils, and gouache, offer action and entertainment. This title, along with If You're a Monster and You Know It, by Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley (2010), will liven up any young crowd and be requested for repeated readings.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)