Customer Reviews

Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Okay. So here was my dilemma. I was supposed to review a children's book of poetry and I had several choices in front of me. I could review the inner city take on "Casey At the Bat". I could do the meaningful one about a Caribbean country. I could do the one about various epitaphs to people of different professions (I am not making this up). Or I could do the goofy monster one. And the ball fell in the goofy monster's court by a loooong shot. You hold "Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich" in your hands, and you may not be sure whether or not to trust it. Should I give this to a child? Will they actually enjoy it? Then you read the tiny byline under the title. "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". Any picture book of poetry that says, "Well, all right then", on its cover has won my irony-laden little heart. It's just a nice plus that the poems inside just happen to be funny, beautifully illustrated, and interesting in all sorts of different ways.

Monsters. It's hard not to love `em. Especially classic movie monsters. Now what we have here are all the monsters you could think of put in a variety of humorous and peculiar situations. There's "Count Dracula: Doesn't Know He's Been Walking Around All Night With Spinach In His Teeth". Or howzabout, "The Mummy: Won't Go To His Eternal Rest Without a Story and Some Cookies"? They're all here, illustrated in a vast variety of ways by the ultra-talented Adam Rex. Each poem is a scintillating series of new ideas involving all sorts of critters. Hidden in the pictures as well are limericks from the fictional, "Michelle & VonFuzz Limerical Guide To Monsters". Kids will lap up the goofy pictures and creatures. Adults will find much to love in the overall humor. Altogether, this book's a trip.

Of course, this is not the only children's picture book to recently bring up some classic monsters from the past. "Mommy?", by Maurice Sendak is also a wonderful monsterish tribute to the likes of The Mummy, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, etc. What is to account for this ghoulish trend in children's picture book literature? Haven't a clue. Maybe publishers have eschewed such ideas in the past and are only right now ready for them. That's my theory, anyway.

So will children like this book? I mean, it does do some pretty amusing grown-up jokes that'll soar right over the l'il kiddies' heads. Heck, even the Dedications in this book are funny. They're listed as "Dedications And/Or Weaknesses" and include things like, "For Scott - Light Beer". And then there was the laugh-out-loud poem (part of a running gag), "Now the Phantom of the Opera Can't Get `The Girl From Ipanema' Out of His Head w/a Peppercorn Coulis". But in spite of all of these, you can't get past the fact that the book is really funny AND fun to read. The pictures will suck children in immediately, and the fact that there are elements like the comic strip "Zombie Zombie" feature (which gives us the immortal image of a Zombie Samba) is enough to convince me that children everywhere will love it. Perhaps less so the "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Henderson's Five Alarm Chili", but I've been known to be wrong. Also, some points will have to be detracted from Mr. Rex's score for a tiny mention of Britney Spears. Naughty, Mr. Rex. Naughty. There is no room in this book for that particular monster.

The sheer variety in illustration styles is what really impressed me, though. If you've ever seen an Adam Rex work, be it "The Dirty Cowboy" or "Tree-Ring Circus", then you know how good the guy is. What you may not have been aware of, however, was the massive range the fellow has. Somehow or other, this book has uncorked all of Mr. Rex's hitherto bottled up expressiveness, and the result is everything from realistic oil paintings, pages that could have come from guide books, images that glow with that old-timey silver screen feel, a comic strip, some computer graphic work, and a selection that looks as if it was engraved and created in the late 19th century. THAT is what you will find here.

Finally we come to the obligatory poop joke. Apparently a law was passed about ten years ago that states that no children's movie can have a trailer that does not involve either pooping or farting in some manner. This sometimes carries over to children's picture books (how else to explain the success of "Walter the Farting Dog"?). Actually, this book is fairly poop-free, until the veeeery last poem. Ah, "Godzilla Pooped On My Honda". But, y'know, I can almost forgive it for the picture that accompanies it. It's on the last page and there we see a Japanese woman staring at... well, you know. In the background are Godzilla, Mothra, Ghidorah (your guess is as good as mine), etc. My real objection? Where the heck is Gamera? Like you can do a Japanese monster tribute without that greatest of gigantic turtles. I mean, really.

My knowledge of monster-related poetry books is not what it could be. Still, if you're looking for a title to pair this book with, might I suggest the aforementioned, "Mommy?" or, even better, Judy Sierra's apropos, "Monster Goose". If your little brain is all ah-twitter this Halloween season and you want to buy something for the kiddies that will amuse their parents and children alike, you can't go wrong with "Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich". Just don't start flipping through it if you're under a time constraint. You'll never put it down.

I simply MUST put in a plug for this fabulous book! As a mom and an illustrator, I was drawn to the amazing art, and I thought perhaps the kids would like it, too. Oh, MAN! It delivered on all points: Amazing art, perfect rhyme (SO hard to find rhyme that really works in a book; it's spot on), and YES- the kids love it and keep going back to read it over and over. I think they do view it as a bit of a fun challenge- there are lots of details and subtleties in the art and text. And I did have to sing "The Girl from Ipanema" to them, because they've never heard it. Overall-YES! Make more books like this, Adam Rex!

Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich is my favorite book of the year. I just can't say enough good things about it. Adam Rex is one of those disgustingly intelligent and talented people who GETS it, who throws personality in the face of convention...and food in the faces of classic monsters.

I laugh myself silly every time I pick up Frankenstein. Nothing is sacred. Adam covers everything from the Phantom of the Opera's musical taste (curse that song!) to Dracula's fondness for iron-rich vegetables (oh, the expression on his face!) to the hazards of automobile ownership in a monster-plagued Tokyo (ewwww!).

It's brilliant. It's habit-forming. It's a book you're going to have to buy two of--one for your kids, and one for yourself. Be sure to read every page, cover to cover (including the covers).

Go ahead. Try not to laugh. I dare you.

Fun, smart poems about monsters for Halloween or anytime! Whether you are an adult or a child, a poetry lover, or just a monster lover you will love this book! Adam Rex's mastery with word and picture are as evident as his love of 50's horror movies! There are many individual poems but the book is well balanced as a whole with several reoccuring characters and similarly themed poems. A fun way to introduce reading to a child, and not at all scary (for better or for worse!)

hysterical book!! i found myself laughing through the whole book as i tried to read it to my boys and sing the songs. rex's painting are amazing and his sense of humor...well you'll just have to buy it. he is definitely up and coming-if he hasn't already left us in the dirt! think john schieska meets norman rockwell.

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And be sure to by an extra for your kids! I don't have children and I will be buying several copies for other adults who don't have kids. This book is BRILLIANT and BEAUTIFUL and FUNNY! You can read it OVER and OVER again and I can't get over the AWESOME illustrations. This man is a Genius and I will now have to own every thing he comes out with.
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Here are some lines to describe this book best,
Aside from its zing
And aside from its zest.

It's hard to go wrong with monsters and food,
Even after a long day or
When you're in a bad mood.

Monsters, zombies, and even a Yeti
Do everyday things
Like eating spaghetti.

They don't lurk or hide or scare.
Instead, they visit the barber
To sort out their hair.

Adam Rex wins the prize for turning spooky to fun,
And for weaving a joke through
A well-crafted pun.

I'm grown-up and I laughed `till I cried.
It just goes to prove that
I'm still a kid inside!

This long titled book is a collection of Adam Rex's short rhyming tales about the classic monsters. Hard core fan critics of particular monsters may well point out that Frankenstein was actually the scientist who created the monster but obviously referring to the creature as Frankenstein's Monster would make the rhyming hard and increase the already lengthy title of this book as well so I don't think we should be too picky. Adam Rex has also drawn spectacular colour illustrations on every page which are full of detail. You'll even find miniature rhyming verses and picture references to other monsters within such as The Invisible Man on a milk carton with the words Have You Seen Me? being carried by the Hunchback of Notre Dame in the rhyme about that character.

Horror's classic characters who have tales inside include Griffin from H.G. Well's story The Invisible Man. Frankenstein's monster from Mary Shelley's classic tale. The Creature of the Black Lagoon, Phantom of the Opera (he must have been the author's favourite as he has a few stories within), Witches, Wolfman (well his best friend's letter to him anyway), Count Dracula, The Mummy, Yeti, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dr Jekyll, Zombies, Bigfoot, Godzilla and the most terrifying monster of all - the Dentist!

This is a very entertaining and funny book. The illustrations mean it will appeal to children as well as adults.

There's a sequel to this as well Frankenstein Takes the Cake.

What a great book! Frankenstein makes a sandwich is just one of many monster stories in Rex's book, all of which rhyme wonderfully and includes great artwork. Not just for Halloween. A real treat for monster fans! The stories are short so you can squeez one in one a break or with a child who may have a short attention span, but you almost can't resist reading the whole book at once.

We borrowed this book from our town library for our children ages 7-12. Ben 2nd grade, Jack 3rd grade and Geneva 6th grade LOVED THIS BOOK! Parents that watched those 60's monster movie classics will love how those monsters all appear in this book of hilarious poems. The boys especially liked the Phantom of the Opera poem set to B-I-N-G-O.
There was a phantom had a song, and BINGO was it's name-o. B-I-N-G-O See? I told you so. B-I-N-G-O By jingo! What a lame-o.
It bugged the Phantom all night long. He never was the same-o. (clap) His cheeks don't show, (clap) if they did though, (clap) we'd see them glow flamingo pink with shame-o.
At least the phantom knows it's wrong, It caused him to proclaim-o,
(clap)(clap)"I'll have no...(clap)(clap)peace, and so...(clap)(clap) I'll just go and haunt a bingo game-o."
Classic poetry, not, but a lot of family fun and reading enthusiasm, so. I brought this book to the computer to write my review and the kids took it to run off and read it and laugh over. What more do you want from a children's book? We are buying this book as a gift to our school library and also friends' birthdays. Parents will appreciate the joy this book brings to their kids.