The Monster at the End...
Common Sense says
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
- $4.99
- Education
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The Monster at the End of This Book is an interactive rendition of a classic Sesame Street picture book from the 1970s. In the book, the adorable Muppet Grover urges children not to turn pages so they can stay as far as possible from the end of the book, where, based on the title, he assumes there will be a monster. However (spoiler alert!), it turns out that Grover himself is the monster at the end of the book. This ebook version allows kids to get very hands-on in parts, even untying ropes and knocking down brick walls.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
What's it about?
Kids simply listen to Grover introduce the book's title and then tap the arrow key on the bottom right of the screen. If they don't tap, Grover will prompt them where to tap. Kids or their parents can type their first names into the "This book belongs to" page, if desired. Pages clearly show where kids swipe to turn pages, and Grover takes over from there, reading each page. Some interactive elements glow, or Grover clues kids in. A parents' page includes great information for helping kids learn about calming themselves when they're afraid.
Is it any good?
THE MONSTER AT THE END OF THIS BOOK...STARRING GROVER! feels like the ebook we've been waiting for. The original book, from way back in the '70s, was a fourth-wall-breaking experience that felt practically interactive as a regular picture book. Now that the technology exists to allow Grover to really talk to his readers and actually have his readers thwart his attempts to stop the pages from turning, recreating this classic as an iPad app feels like just the right thing -- and it's very well done. Grover's narration and the accompanying animations are hilarious, and kids get a real kick out of untying his knots, pulling down his nailed-up boards, and flicking down his hastily built brick wall. There are no bonus activities or extras, but the book is enough fun as it is. You even get to hear Grover comment on the dullness of the copyright page. There's a bit of a lag between pages, but that's really the app's only flaw.
Talk to your kids about ...
At the start of the book, ask kids why Grover might feel afraid and what they might say to comfort him.
Follow the Parents Notes tab for many suggestions on ways to help your kids tackle fears, how to tell when your children are scared, and what to say to calm them.
App details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
- Subjects: Language & Reading: following directions, reading, storytelling, vocabulary
- Skills: Emotional Development: empathy, identifying emotions
- Price: $4.99
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: December 27, 2013
- Category: Education
- Size: 216.70 MB
- Publisher: Sesame Street
- Version: 5.1.8
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 8.0 or later
- Last updated: July 10, 2020
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.