The Best Monster Books For Kids
Monsters may terrify children, but finding enjoyable and humorous monster books can help them put their fears to rest.
Mo Willems imparts to young readers that being a good friend is more important than being an evil monster. Additionally, he helps them comprehend that people are unique individuals with distinct personalities and styles.
1. The Very Worst Monster by Mo Willems
Mo Willems is a children’s author that young kids love and admire. His books aren’t just funny; they’re endearing as well. The Very Worst Monster follows suit in this regard and makes for an entertaining addition to any collection of kid-friendly monster books.
A young boy is terrified of his bedroom monsters, but finding that talking about them with his grandmother helps him manage them better. This book will surely bring smiles to kids’ faces while providing an important lesson about friendships.
Willems’ humor relies heavily on word choice, timing and repetition. That is why The Very Worst Monster is such a delight to read aloud. Additionally, it serves as an effective teaching tool – being an exemplary friend is much more rewarding than being a frightening monster!
2. My Friend the Monster by Elanor Taylor
Louis and his family are thrilled with their new house, providing them with plenty of room to explore. However, this home is no ordinary foxtrot; it’s a monster of an opportunity. Perhaps most exciting of all may be their two new neighbors – a mean crocodile and timid lion! After some rough starts and heated negotiations, they decide to follow Dad’s advice – for now. Luckily, everything went off without a hitch on their special day, thanks to mom and dad’s guidance and patience throughout the process. With little help from parents themselves, they’ve made quite a name for themselves in the neighborhood.
3. Jane & Mizmow
Jane and Mizmow make an unlikely team. Though they are best friends, their personalities differ significantly – from bed-jumping to tree climbing and snack sharing! Despite these obstacles, Jane and Mizmow enjoy doing things together, from bed-jumping to tree climbing to snack sharing.
Mizmow is always there to help Jane out with whatever she needs. He keeps her feet warm at night, assists with taking a shower, and of course eats leaves!
This book’s main storyline is wordless, with vibrant images on each page that look like cartoon animation. The illustrations are easy to follow along with, making the book ideal for young readers who struggle with reading comprehension.
Matthew Armstrong is an acclaimed LDS illustrator whose other works include the best-selling Chronicles of Narnia pop-up book and Return to Narnia picture book. This self-authored picture book will captivate children age three to five as well as adults who appreciate a good monster tale just as much. While there may not be much text in this short book, Armstrong does an admirable job at filling in any blanks with adorable and clever illustrations.
4. Some Monsters Are Different by Sara Pennypacker
Sara Pennypacker’s Pax, a middle grade novel about a boy and his fox that NPR has called a “must read,” is an inspiring tale of loyalty and courage. It follows Peter on his journey to reunite with his pet after saving it as a kit despite his dad joining the military and sending him away from nature.
In this story, the bond between a boy and his dog/fox is so strong that it cannot be broken even when the boy leaves it for three hundred miles to return home after his father’s passing. It serves as a powerful reminder that true love is not just physical touch but emotional connection as well.
One of the things that makes this book great is how it uses words and images to convey emotion. For example, Pax is abandoned in the first chapter but doesn’t speak, so we get a sense of his distress as well as an understanding of his emotions such as fear when he realizes there’s a boy with a rifle nearby.
5. Monster Be Good! by Laura Purdie Salas
Monster books for kids should not only be thrilling and captivating, but also educational. This one is no exception; it provides an insightful introduction to four primary emotions: happiness, sadness, peace and anger. Most excitingly, the book also teaches children how to compartmentalize their feelings so that they can better cope with them in a healthy and productive manner.
This book is not only enjoyable to read, but it will be a staple in your child’s library. Filled with short poems and some longer ones (one of which is actually a short story), this collection brings together classic read-aloud storytelling techniques with stunning illustrations. It promises to make reading an adventure!
This book is one of the most captivating homages to a good read I’ve come across recently. It has everything you’d want from an entertaining read: captivating characters, some drama, lessons about reading and writing, as well as plenty of laughs – making this one book you should check out before bedtime!
6. Monsters Inc. by Mike and Sulley
Though I didn’t find it as entertaining as Toy Story or A Bug’s Life, this movie still provides plenty of laughs and makes for a great family movie. The characters are well-developed, while the writing is intelligent – all making for an enjoyable watch.
The main protagonists in the series are Sulley (voiced by John Goodman) and Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal). Sulley is a fearsome big scarer who strives to remain in his position but keeps hitting roadblocks. When Sulley gets a new job, he hires Mike as an assistant and the two become best friends.
Mike and Sulley may live in Monstropolis, but they still maintain many human-like traits. They greet neighbors, follow traffic rules, and engage in small conversation with strangers as they walk to work each day.
Additionally, the building where they work has several workplace details that resemble real-world businesses, such as an employee-of-the month wall and water coolers. There’s even a sign commemorating how long the office has been accident free.
7. Tickle Monster by Todd Parr
Todd Parr is the bestselling author of numerous books. Each one carries an important message, from helping kids express their emotions to teaching them how to protect the planet.
Tickle Monster is a charming board book that encourages self-control. It boasts an amusing rhyming story and vibrant colors.
This picture book is ideal for toddlers and preschoolers due to its easy-to-read language and straightforward illustrations. It promises to be both entertaining and educational at the same time!
Bonaparte, the main character, is experiencing bone loss. His friends Franky Stein, Blacky Widow and Mummicula try to help him out but cannot find a lasting solution. Ultimately they realize that an animal-lover will provide them with the answer: Bonaparte!
This charming read-aloud is the perfect Halloween read! With its perfect rhymes and vivid illustrations, its peek-through die-cut pages will surely delight little readers.
8. Monsters Inc. Read-Along Story Book
Disney/Pixar’s Monsters Inc is one of the year’s biggest family movie releases, and this two-disc special edition comes packed with extras like a mini game, video shorts and 60 minutes of the film itself. Being an avid Disney fanatic myself, I was especially delighted that the DVD came with a full-color 64 page book featuring Mike and Sulley themselves! While not easy to follow along with, its illustrations are well done; the tale retells familiar characters and locations in an accessible way for kids who may not be old enough for the actual film yet.
No, Monsters Inc. may not be the star of our bookshelf, but if your kid needs something to keep them occupied while you do other things around the house, the new little sibling should definitely be on your must-have list.