Monster’s First Day of School

Now that Monster and Boy are fast friends, they do everything together, from drawing pictures to crafting fun hairstyles, and most importantly, asking lots and lots of questions. However, boy starts disappearing during the days and Monster is confused. Where has Boy gone? And why does he miss him so much?

Soon, Monster learns that Boy is going to school, and, of course, he wants to go too. The only problem is that Monster is way too big for school, and so Boy decides to shrink him (using a bizarre technique involving binoculars and a mirror) and to take him along in his knapsack. Being small for the first time in his life, Monster finds it hard to fit in at first. The other kids are big and scary, and there is so much noise, but, with the help of his best friend, Monster realizes that being small isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

In this second installment of the “Monster and Boy” early chapter book series, Monster and Boy being the first, readers are taken on a quirky, often bizarre ride. This is partly due to the narrative structure of the story which is often interrupted by unnecessary asides from the narrator. Although attempting humour, these narrative breaks actually make the story seem disjointed.

Moreover, as characters, Monster and Boy are lovable enough, but their adventures are predictable at best. From their riding the school bus, to participating in show and tell during circle time, most school aged children can relate but will find nothing new to spark their imaginations. Oftentimes amusing and quirky, Monster’s First Day of School just lacks that something special that would have made it truly stand out.