Monster Museum

Twenty-two poems take young readers on a tour of the 'Monster Museum' in this picture-book that is much enhanced by the suitably creepy illustrations of Gris Grimly. From the one and only Count Dracula - the Transylvanian monster with the most class - to the shrieking banshee - an Irish ghost with an unmistakably piercing wail - the fierce and fearsome, the ghastly and ghoulish, are profiled in Singer's brief poems, and deliciously depicted in Grimly's distinctive artwork. The result is a poetic collection that makes for spooky Halloween reading!

Although I enjoyed Monster Museum, I have to concur with the friend who recommended it to me, in finding Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich a far superior collection, when it comes to this sort of show more monstrous poetry. Unlike Rex's stellar collection, some of the rhymes here felt distinctly forced, and others left me cold altogether. I think I would have been significantly less charmed, were it not for the Grimly illustrations. I checked this one out of the library this past weekend, together with a follow up collaboration by Singer and Grimly, Creature Carnival, and now I'm debating whether I'll read that second title... That said, I do recommend this one, as I think it's an entertaining read for the Halloween season, and provides more than a few fun visuals, but I think readers should make an effort to track down the Adam Rex collection as well. show less

A group of children take a trip to the monster museum and their spooky guide introduces them to all kinds of monsters with entertaining rhyming poetry. I enjoyed reading this book aloud and had several favorite poems, Frankenstein's Monster and Medusa. Each poem had their own rhyming scheme and every so often the form changes, great way to introduce children to a variety of poetry. Also included in the back of the book is a really cool glossary full of all the monsters that made an appearance in the book with a brief history of where they originated, their abilities and weaknesses.

This visit to the monster museum is full of freaky poems. Most rhyme well and have a good cadence. Sometimes the endings are a little huh.., but all in all the book works. Plus the Grimly illustrations are perfect for the tales.

This would be a poetry book that I would select poems from during Halloween. The concept of the students visiting the "Monster Museum" was clever and unique. I thought it made the book inviting with the use of the introduction and conclusion poem. It enabled me to feel as if I was also on the tour. Although I was not wild about all the poems inside, there were many humorous and quirky ones, such as "Poltergeist," "The Gremlin," and "The Werewolf."

This book of poetry guides readers through a "monster museum." Each exhibit is marked by the title of the monster and a rhyming poem describing it. This book makes "scarey" less creepy and more fun. The tone is humorous and light hearted. The illustrations are the perfect mixture of bright and dark to create a great backdrop for the whimsical poems. I would like to read this book of poems to my students over a week's time. I would read a couple of poems a day to count down to Halloween. Then, on Halloween, as one of the fun holiday activities, I would have students create their own monsters to write about and illustrate. This would be fun for students and they would be practicing literacy skills with out really realizing it.

Monster Museum is a book of several different poems about a large array of scary creatures, including ghosts, werewolves, zombies, ogres, and even man eating plants. The first poem welcomes the reader to the Monster Museum and invites them along on a tour filled with creepy surprises. Each poem describes the monsters and creatures in a fun entertaining way that children will find amusing. When describing the werewolf the author warns “if you meet a werewolf late at night, do not invite him for a bite”, In a poem about Bigfoot getting married, the groom and bride are described as shaggy and howling while the knot is tied. The Giant is a delicate issue because he might be inclined to squish you. This book is filled with every beast, show more monster, and mythical creature ever mentioned.

I am planning to be a an elementary teacher in the near future. I am always looking for books that would be great to read to my students. This book of poems would certainly be a book I would read to my students at Halloween. The illustrations are fun to look at, the poems are well written and could be described as lyric poems. The poems sing, they will make you laugh, and make children look at monsters in a different light.

At Halloween this would be a wonderful book to read to the children. Children could then make masks of the creatures they liked best. This would also be a wonderful opportunity to teach children about museums. The children could then draw pictures of their favorite creatures and make frames out of popsicle sticks for the pictures. The pictures would look like they were going to be hung in a museum. The teacher could then hang the pictures on the wall of the classroom. show less

Monster Museum was a book compiled of various poems about different monsters that one would find at the monster museum. The one particular poem I liked in this book was Frankenstein's Monster. This poem talked about how Frankenstein is very frustrated that no one will give him a name of his own. I liked this poem (and this book of poems) for two reasons. The first reason I liked it was because it used a rhyme scheme. This poem used the rhyme scheme of AAB CCB DDB EEB FFB GGB. Using a rhyme scheme in poetry helps create a rhythm within the poem. For example, reading the following lines with a rhyme scheme helped me to read at a certain pace, and to catch the rhythm of the poem.
"They gave me some bolts,
They gave me some jolts.
They gave me show more a great deal of fame.

They gave me a bride,
And even some pride.
But they never did give me a name."
The second reason I liked this book was because it had an introduction to the poems in the beginning of the book, and and ending at the end. The introduction poem was titled "Monster Museum". Having an introduction allowed me as the reader to prepare for what was coming next. "So, come along, children, and let's start the tour!" At the end of the book, it sort of sums up what all the poems were about-monsters at the monster museum, and thanks the reader. "Bid farewell, brave souls, to the Monster Museum!" I believe the big idea of this book of poems is Halloween, and to not be afraid because these creatures are not looking to harm. show less