Happy Birthday, Monster! [Hardcover]

Scott Beck (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

A sweet treat for Halloween, birthdays, or any time of the year!

From the author-illustrator of Little House, Little Town comes a warm and funny tale with an unusual cast of characters. Ben the monster has planned a surprise party for Doris the dragon’s birthday. At this unforgettable monster bash, the birthday dragon blows on her candles to light them, the robot is a little too enthusiastic about hitting the birthday pinãta, and the host monster finds horns an impediment in a game of trampoline.

Each spread, illustrated in panels, contains its own discreet episode and joke, perfect for little children to linger over. The visual-based humor is ideal for kids too young to read, while the brief, accessible text encourages those just learning to decode words. Once again, Scott Beck proves he has just the right sensibility for the preschool set in this gem of a book.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Scott Beck is a fabric designer, a father of two, and the author-illustrator of highly praised picture books for young children. His work has been called “reminiscent of Crockett Johnson’s” (School Library Journal) and “winningly buoyant” (Publishers Weekly). He lives in Montclair, New Jersey.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810993635
• ISBN-13: 978-0810993631
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 11.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,612,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Read it again, daddy!, October 9, 2007

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Happy Birthday, Monster! (Hardcover)

Ben is throwing a surprise birthday party for his friend Doris the dragon. So he invites his other monster friends--an alien, a robot, a mummy, a vampire, ghost and skeleton.

The guests all bring presents and wait for Doris to arrive so they can surprise her. When she gets there, celebration and hilarity quickly ensue: Ben plays music; the mummy does the twist; the ghost finds jump-roping an easy task; and the robot quickly destroys the piñata. When the party is over, Doris collects all her presents in a shiny red wagon from Ben.

Happy Birthday, Monster! by Scott Beck is a quick, fun children's read. There is minimal text, but the illustrations are bright, colorful and easy for a child to enjoy with its cast of quirky characters.

This is Scott Beck's fourth children's book. It is a great book for a younger child--but enjoyable for the whole family.

Armchair Interviews says: Fun characters kids will love.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A clever, fun book--another hit at our house!, September 7, 2007

By 

Laurie (grosse pointe park, mi United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Happy Birthday, Monster! (Hardcover)

We've purchased all of Scott's books and they've become our children's favorites. This latest one is no different. They especially enjoy the cleverness of the drawings, they find something to laugh at in every panel-- a very fun book to read--even for my older children!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, March 10, 2008

By 

Cindy Thompson (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Happy Birthday, Monster! (Hardcover)

Very cute and fun book. We checked it out from the library and then I knew we had to own it for nightly bedtime reading. Clever lines to amuse kids as well as adults and adorable drawings.