Monsters Don't Cry! by Brett McKee and Ella Burfoot

Monsters Don't Cry! by Brett McKee and Ella Burfoot
Buy Monsters Don't Cry! by Brett McKee and Ella Burfoot at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: For Sharing
Reviewer: Kerry King
Summary: When an over exuberant, robust little monster gets into all sorts of scrapes, it's his trusty teddy who acts as fall guy for his mishaps in this humorous and heart-warming book.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 32	Date: November 2012
Publisher: Andersen
ISBN: 978-1849393133
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Archie awoke with a shout in the night.
Only a dream, but what a terrible fright.
Well monsters may roar, may growl or just sigh,
But monsters are strong, monsters don't cry.

Archie is a funny, adventurous and brave little chap but in spite of the fact that he's a little monster – literally – sometimes when life's little twists and turns don't go his way, it all gets a bit upsetting. Because even monsters get scared; especially little ones like Archie.

But, as we make our way through this beautifully illustrated story, Archie learns that, sometimes, little monsters don't always have to be brave. Especially when Mummy and Daddy monster are at hand to make everything all right.

Monsters Don't Cry! arrived on the bookshelves with great timing to address an issue that we are currently all experiencing in our house with nightmares/waking up and being scared. Even some of the scary subject matter in the book are relevant to us – bees, for example are a recurring reason to shout out at 3am. So we were interested to see how this may be addressed. And we do love a good story that addresses issues!

My four year old daughter could easily be described as a little monster, so she and Archie already have that in common and we thoroughly enjoy a rhyming story, so it's a hit for us on two counts already (I really enjoy the labour that goes into finding enough words to rhyme and still tell a story; it's such a pleasure to read).

But what my four year old was completely fascinated with was the fact that a monster could get frightened. To her mind, and on the basis that he himself is scary already, what could he possibly be scared about? We really enjoyed exploring the whys and wherefores of that little conundrum and it seemed to amuse her little pre-schooler sensitivities that such a thing could be possible.

So to summarise, I'd suggest a first time reading during the day, because lengthy debate on how monsters can be afraid is not something to encourage at bedtime, but thereafter, it's really good fun and reminds your little one that the night time is nothing to fear and that mummy and daddy are close at hand.

Similarly as a group read, it's utterly perfect, because the illustrations are large and lustrously hued and there is a running chorus type theme that would soon have a group of kids chanting along on every page.

I recommend this book as a terrific tale with a purpose that is both lively and fun with a lovely message.

By way of further reading, I would suggest Don't Invite Dinosaurs To Dinner by Neil Griffiths and Peggy Collins because it, too, is riotously colourful and further, it has flaps, which are the best fun you can have with a book. You may also like to have a look at The Snorgh and the Sailor by Will Buckingham and Thomas Docherty because I rather fell in love with it and doubly so since the clever author took the trouble to let me know how Snorgh is pronounced when I asked.

Lastly, we at Bookbag would like to extend our thanks to the kind ladies and gents at Andersen Press for sending us this copy to review.

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