Hi all!
Okay. For this month’s Fuse #8 TV I decided to premiere a new series.
*ahem*
Introducing:
Reading (Too Much Into) Picture Books
Ladies and gentlemen, I like a good conspiracy theory. Nothing makes my heart go pitter pat faster than an opinion about a picture book that takes a right hand turn into Crazyville. Trouble is, there just aren’t enough out there. Sure, you can tell me that Horton Hears a Who is anti-abortion and Rainbow Fish is pro-Communist but sometimes it feels like I’ve heard them all. Time to shake things up a little!
Announcing a series where I make up crazed interpretations of classic picture books. This month: Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley. We all know it. We love it. Now what’s the kookiest theory you can come up with for it? I say my own and it’s a doozy. I’m weirdly proud about it.
After that I interview the very fun, funny, and infinitely patient Chris Grabenstein. Chris has a new middle grade novel out this year called The Island of Dr. Libris. He entertains my questions and then pulls out this Jim Henson story that will seriously make your eyes water. I’m not even kidding about that.
Enjoy!
#62 Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley (1992)
30 points
This book saved my sanity when I was babysitting my two year old nephew for a week, a nephew I really did not know well. The only time, while conscious, that he stopped crying was when I read this book. So I read it a thousand times, at least. For this reason, it will always, always have a place very near the top of my list. Thank you Ed! – Laura Reed
Fun to read. The die cut pictures often fascinate children. And this book makes for an easy flannel board or magnetic story. – Gina Detate
This was always a huge, huge hit. I often give it as a shower gift as it is such a good read aloud book for 3-5 year olds. Unlike many of my choices it is the pictures that are the focus here as the child is able to disassemble the potentially scary monster and make it go away all by herself. It deserves wide acclaim. – Christine Kelly
What kid empowerment! - Pat Vasilik
Empowerment is indeed the name of the game with this strange creation from Caldecott winning artist Ed Emberley. In this book a big green monster is invoked. As the die-cut pages are turned he appears, sharp white teeth and all. But just as he’s at his most ferocious, the process reverses. The text tells each part of the monster to go away and, with a turn of a page, go away it does. When at long last the kid can say, “and don’t come back! Until I say so,” the monster has been exorcised, the child firmly in control.
It’s popular. Ripped die-cut pages in libraries across the country can attest to that. It even inspired sequels of sorts (Glad Monster, Sad Monster and Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug) though nothing can quite touch Big Green Monster’s fame and fandom. It was also rereleased not too long ago with a new shiny, sparkly package, though the monster remains pretty much the same inside.
Booklist said of it, “Graphically playful and exciting, this picture book promises to jazz up any story time and to give individual children a measure of control over at least ‘one’ monster.”
I love the hand puppet aspect of this.
- For my part, I’ve always liked it because the cover looks like Kilroy Was Here.
