Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich

This book really cracked me up! I'm sure that all the business people with whom I commute every day must think I'm a lunatic, as I'm always cracking open these HUGE picture-books on the morning train-ride (right next to their slim, elegant Kindles), and either sniffling into the pages (Patricia Polacco, I'm looking at you!) or laughing out loud. Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, a collection of monstrously magical (or should that be magically monstrous?) poems by Adam Rex, was one of the laugh-out-loud titles...

With selections like The Yeti Doesn't Appreciate Being Called Bigfoot and Bigfoot Can't Believe You Called Him Yeti Just Now, in which the two enormous creatures slam one another, a running joke about the Phantom of the Opera, who show more can't seem to get certain songs out of his head, and a hilarious visit by Dracula Jr. to a truly scary creature (the dentist), there is a lot here to keep readers entertained. The poems themselves make for a great read-aloud, and the accompanying illustrations emphasize the humor of each piece. It's another winner from Adam Rex! I will definitely be looking for the sequel, Frankenstein Takes the Cake... show less

The existence of such a book (found at the UU church rummage sale, of course) made me realize that there are more kids like my son in this world! It's like the book was made just for him. We read some of the poems aloud to our neighbor, laying on a blanket in our yard, and I could see that she was thinking...."okay...weird," which is the normal response one would have, I think. However, this book could be a portal for the average adult into Morgan's world. Poems narrate the everyday dilemmas of many famous literary monsters (such as not being able to get a stupid song out of one's head, experienced by the Phantom of the Opera, or not being able to borrow lunch meat from your neighbors to make a sandwich because they all run from you show more screaming when you approach them, as experienced by Frankenstein). The illustrations delight and poems solicit volcanic bouts of laughter, but not to everyone. It's perfect for a 9-year-old who is obsessed with monsters, enjoys poems, and still laughs into cramping fits at fart jokes. show less

In 19 poems, writer/illustrator Adam Rex offers us a more humanized view of the monsters we've come to know and love. In Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, monsters get haircuts, make snacks, become victims of earworms and more. These fabulous poems and illustrations come in a variety of styles to keep kids and grownups entertained. Packed with hilarity, this collection of poetry is bound to make you chuckle. Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich was selected for the Cooperative Children's Book Center in 2007 and the North Carolina Children's Book Award in 2008.

A humorous look at monsters galore, with a little something for everyone, written in verse. I read the second book first, Frankenstein Takes the Cake, and upon finding out there was another, opted to read this one as well. With hidden gems, lines and prose tucked into virtually every corner, including the Library of Congress information page (The Invisible Man's snow-angel), this book is a treasure trove just waiting to be explored, poked, and laughed at. Some of the jokes are definitely aimed at an older crowd, but that just enforces the fact that this book is for all ages - ideally to be read aloud as a family.

I can only hope that Mr. Rex will continue to delight us with further displays of monster atrocities in verse. This was show more beautiful (and beautifully illustrated throughout). show less

Adam Rex’s “Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich: and other stories you’re sure to like, because they’re all about monsters, and some of them are also about food. You like food, don’t you? Well, all right then.” (long title!) is a book of poetry in picture book format meant for children. It features a series of poems about well known monsters and people such as ‘The Phantom of the Opera can’t get ‘It’s a Small World’ out of his head”, “The Invisible Man gets a haircut”, and “Bigfoot can’t believe you called him Yeti just now”. These all feature humorous twists on characters we have grown up with.

This book is hilarious! I don’t know how they got away with the 5-10 age range, as there are subtle nuances in the show more text and pictures that are obviously meant for an adult audience. There is very clever use of language and illustrations that make it a book that can be enjoyed by a much wider range of audience. One thing that took me a second read before I got it was the Phantom of the Opera’s poems scatted throughout the book. If you read the words according to the song it is talking about the words fit with the tune! Very intelligent. I would recommend this book to ANYONE with a sense of humour. Coincidentally, I am purchasing a copy of this book for my 32 year old brother for Christmas. show less

With a full title of: Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich and Other Stories You're Sure to Like Because They're All About Monsters and Some of Them Are Also About Food. You Like Food Don't You? Well, All Right Then, how could you not help but want to read this book! The table of contents for this book is presented menu style, many with clever subtitles letting the reader know right from the start that they are in for an unusual treat indeed. The menu contains 21 witty and very humorous items...complete with a running joke about the Phantom of the Opera and tunes (like Small World After All and the Girl from Ipanema) stuck in his head making it impossible for him to compose. The central theme, as you might well guess from the title is show more monsters...this book covers pretty much every classic movie monster out there, from Frankenstein to Dracula and even includes the Wolfman, the Invisible Man, the Mummy, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and a brief appearance by Godzilla (well, his poo anyway...because what kids books isn't complete with some type of poo reference, heh). Pst...it's even got Zombies!

With such an ensemble menu, one might wonder if it's a good idea after all to give this book to young kids...you need not fear this book being overly scary, in fact it's done in such an interesting, engaging, and humorous way that the scares are most welcome! Even better, the book has witty gags and jokes for kids AND the adults reading to them which makes for great reading in my opinion...it's always nice when an kid's author adds levels that might go over kid's heads so that the adults reading get a little chuckle out of the book too.

What's could be better than ironic poems about monsters in humorous and rather unusual situations...like Frankenstein making a yummy snack from food lobbed at him by the mob or Dracula with spinach stuck in his teeth? Well, that would be the artwork! It's utterly gorgeous and truly a feast for the eyes. Kids will find those at least (if not more) engaging than the poems that go with them because they are so full of rich color and detail...I mean the expression on Dracula's face is just divine! This is one story that kids will ask you to read (and visually peruse) over and over. There is only one menu item that didn't go over well with my kids (the bit about Jekyll and Mr. Henderson), but overall, it's a monstrous success that makes me want to run out and buy copies for all my friends weather they've got kids or not! I give this five stars and I'll definitely be adding a copy to our permanent library. Do yourself a favor and get a copy for your little monster lover, you won't regret it! show less

This book is really, really funny. The art I find beautiful in children's books usually tends towards the more traditional, soft watercolors of sweet animals and the like. The art in this book is nothing like that, but it is still beautiful! It is so detailed and lively, just studying the art can reveal some of the story. That being said, the art combined with the text is enough to make you laugh out loud, as I did! I especially appreciated the recurring jokes (don't mistake the different types of monsters for each other, and you better hope you don't run into one that has a song stuck in his head!). This will go on my "feel good" shelf to give me a pick-me-up when I'm feeling down, because it's guaranteed to always bring a smile to my show more face. show less