Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Monsters lead way in reassuring first-day-of-school romp.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Summer's over, and a colorful group of eight little monsters gets ready for Monster School, checking off the school supplies on their list. Then the first day comes. "What's school for, anyway?" asks the monster named Blue. "School is for learning your ABCs and 123s and XYZs," says Principal Blinkin (a monster with one eye). "School is for painting and folding and pasting!" says Miss Scribble, the art teacher. "School is for making friends," says one of the little monsters at recess. "School is for reading and writing and spelling," says Miss Spel. And so it goes through lunch, history class, book club (with Mr. Reed, the librarian), and music class. A good day is had by all, and Blue shouts on the last page, "I LOVE MONSTER SCHOOL!"
Is It Any Good?
The bright colors and cheery monsters will appeal to kids even if they haven't read author-illustrator Mike Austin's previous Monsters Love Colors. This book sweeps the reader up in the excitement of school and all the activities there and touches on kids' fear and apprehension before they start school, as little monster Blue asks, "What if I get hungry?" "What if no one likes me?"
The monsters approach school like a "big adventure," and the happy outcome is very reassuring.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about starting school. Are you worried about anything? What kinds of fun things will you do there?
Why are stories about monsters fun? What others have you read?
Draw some monsters of your own. Will they be friendly monsters or scary monsters?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Mike Austin
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Arts , Numbers and Letters
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Harper
- Publication date : July 17, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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