The Monster at the End of this Book

Jon Stone

Average Rating 9/10 (1 Review)

Age Range: 2 - 4 years

The Monster at the End of This Book is THE bestselling Sesame Street Little Golden Book of all time. Now available as a sturdy board book it stars a frantic Grover trying in vain to prevent readers from turning the pages and finding the monster at the end of the book.

The original Little Golden Book has sent generations of readers into gales of laughter and has become a true modern classic.

This addition to the Sesame Street collection provides pre-schoolers with a fun-filled tale as Grover uses suspense to build up to the mystery monster at the end of the book. By all accounts, this book is a favourite among toddlers and adults alike.

Generations will recall their first time reading along as lovable, furry old Grover begs the reader not to turn the page... for a monster is at the end of the book! But, of course, the monster is none other than Grover himself.

A classic, not to be missed.

“What did that say? On the cover, what did that say? Did that say there will be a monster at the end of this book? IT DID? Oh, I am so scared of monsters!!!”

Review by Molly Martin (310319) Rating (9/10)

Review by Molly Martin
Book Source: Not Known
Rating 9/10
The Monster at the End of This Book, Author Jon Stone, the first head writer for Sesame Street, one of the show’s principal directors and producers for more than 24 years created one of the most loved of children’s picture books. Based on Muppet Grover, the blue, charming character featured prominently on Sesame Street this book has been credited by more than one generation of Little People learning to allay fears and develop a love for printed words, being read to and learning to read alone.

Loveable, furry old Grover is distressed, upset and nearly hysterical: there is a monster at the end of this book.

The opening lines of the book finds Grover enquiring; ‘What did that say? Did it say there will be a monster at the end of this book? It did? Oh, I am so scared of monsters!

Little people wish to turn to the last page to see the monster. Grover implores them not to do that. ‘Don’t turn the page.’

Grover is so fearful about the monster and doesn't want the reader to go any further into the book. Every page turned brings Grover closer to the monster, and ‘I am so scared of monsters!’ As pages are turned, Grover continues to beseech do not turn the pages.

Grover tries his best to make certain those pages cannot be turned; he ties them together, he nails them together, he gets band aids and tapes the page shut, he even builds a brick wall in front of the pages.

Nothing works, and that monster is getting closer.

And, finally, there it is. We can see the monster at the end of the book.

And it is Grover.

Loveable, furry old Grover is the monster at the end of the narrative!

Grover is all but overwhelmed - and kids of all ages are thrilled - to discover who is actually the monster at the end of the book! ‘I, lovable, furry old Grover, am the monster at the end of this book.’

Oh how delightful that is for children. On the other hand, poor Grover, ‘oh I am so embarrassed.’

This appealing work was favourite of my oldest son, who is now in his forties, and I when he was a tot not quite two-years-old. And was very terrified at the thought of monsters.

I credit this book and the TV children’s program, Sesame Street with getting us through a difficult time, helping my child begin to understand the beauty of books and how to deal with notions as yet unexplained, and with helping me maintain a firm grip on patience as we worked through the terror many children have regarding the unknown, and monsters.

This is a book I continued to read to my K1 classes as a teacher long after my own sons were well past the need for reading it at home.

As I read I found Little Listeners at home and in the classroom will quickly be caught up in Grover's growing dread and expectation the first time or two the book is read aloud as he comes closer and closer to that ‘monster’ at the end of the book.

The worry children, my own at home and in the classroom expressed and exhibited was soon replaced with delight as the awareness that the monster IS just loveable Grover.

Classroom filled with bright eyed Kindergarten or First Graders were astounded to learn that my kid had been afraid of monsters! Which led to first one and then another to admit and then begin to discuss their own remembered ‘little kid’ fears, as they eyed the book with expectancy and settled into listening mode.

Grover’s Herculean labours in getting those pages nailed down in his determination to keep the reader from continuing on; elicits peals of laughter today as was the case with my own children at home decades ago as we sat down for reading time.

Chuckling Little Listeners happily challenge Grover's repeated request ‘Don't turn the page.’ He continues to help because the unknown and monsters in particular seem not so terrifying.

Author Jon Stone penned the chronicle so that Grover is speaking directly to children as they sit safe and sheltered on Mom or Dad’s lap to listen to the account. Cuddling close with parents, grandparents and other caregivers is an encouraged and encouraging method for reassuring Little Listeners while allowing lots of child responses during the reading and listening.

Michael Smollin illustrations are a delight, each action to prevent turning and the consequence for not preventing the page to be turned is present across a two page spread filled with lots of colour and activity.

The central and only character of this narrative is, of course, old friend Grover from Sesame Street. Sesame Street was a favourite of my almost two-year-old and his younger brother, for many years during their pre-school and Primary school years. Grover, as were others of the Muppets, was and continue to be remembered as an unqualified, much loved, part of their lives.

Grover is just as humorous and livid as always was he helps make monsters seem not so scary. I find The Monster at the End of This Book will support children as they develop awareness and understanding that notwithstanding everything, all the fear, and worry we imagine; there are times, when there really isn't reason to be afraid.

Children today, as I found with my own sons and in my early days of teaching decades ago in California, often also dread the unfamiliar, and tend to enjoy listening to stories with great pleasure.

I continue to realise Little Listeners, listening to an account regarding a scary little creature who IS a little blue monster; is just the ticket for guiding little people as they talk about their fears and why the fears may not be well grounded.

Both of my children enjoyed this book very much when they were tots.

When I returned to teaching after a hiatus of ten years following the 26 spent in California K1 classrooms I had pondered whether today’s Little Listeners might be too ‘grown up’ first graders to enjoy the tale. I am happy they were not.

Happy to recommend. 4 thumbs up from two former little guys, and 150 give or take a few from the kids in Mrs. Martin’s Osage County Kindergarten and First Grade classes, Osage County.

I bought the book, a paperback measuring about 13 inches in length and maybe 7 inches across because my own child, at age almost two, feared monsters, even as he adored loved Grover; he was nearly as anxious as Grover during the first reading. Subsequent readings were filled with laughter and no worry.

I do not find that particular format as was my original book for home use offered today on Amazon or other sites; I do find the Golden Book 8 x 10 available, it is the one I used in the classroom.

Searching for the larger paperback I used at home led to me to many negative reviews regarding the board book, a small side hidden under a hand in the photo on the Amazon page. I have not seen it but take the word of parents who do not care for the size; it is too small.

Now and then I find The Golden Book edition on the shelf at jumble shops, and book stores and see it listed on various book sales sites on the internet.

I have yet to find the original rectangle version anywhere. I happily recommend The Golden Book edition for school and public libraries, Primary K3 classrooms, home usage and gifting a birthday or other event.
Molly Martin (31st March 2019)