Making Friends with Frankenstein: A Book of Monstrous Poems and Pictures [Paperback]

Colin McNaughton (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 1996 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

There are 56 poems in this book of verse and pictures. In addition to ghouls, ghosts, beasts and weirdos of every description, the cast-list includes new and memorable characters such as The Wild Bill Hickok Bird and The Doom Merchant.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a starred review, PW wrote, "With a dash of Monty Python and a whiff of Jack Prelutsky, McNaughton's deliciously outrageous poems are filled with wacky cartoon characters, nimble puns and clever spoofs." Ages 6-12. (Sept.).

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-This medley of monster-mayhem poems is full of funny sounds and furies and reads aloud with lots of bounce. The volume is decorated with cartoon beasts of all kinds-dinosaurs, cyclopses, giant pigs, overgrown alligators-cavorting with and grimacing at pop-eyed (and sometimes just as monstrous) people. Reminiscent of the Dahl/Blake partnership that created Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes (Knopf, 1983), the poems include an array of disgusting bodily functions that kids will find hilarious. Like the verses of Spike Milligan, there's a nasty wit at work, too, much of which may escape the sensibilities of young readers. Also, they may be puzzled by the Briticisms and occasionally sophisticated wordplay. Some of the verses don't quite scan, but that's redeemed by their sheer vitality and the fun of their typographic variety. There's violence galore, but that's what monsters do, after all, and mostly the kids win out.
Marjorie Lewis, Heathcote School, Scarsdale, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (September 2, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156402962X
• ISBN-13: 978-1564029621
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,040,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilariously Wicked, October 4, 2005

By 

Amber Gin (Oceanside, California USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Making Friends with Frankenstein (Hardcover)

My 5 year-old son is smitten with everything spooky and monstrous and creepy. If it has all those components AND makes him laugh, he is over the top! "Making Friends with Frankenstein: A Book of Monstrous Poems and Pictures" definitely does it for him. This is one of those books that we checked out of the library and renewed until we couldn't renew any more. We're buying two copies. One for our own library and one for his class.

And let me tell you about the accompanying artwork! The author notes that "I write my poems and do my drawings at the same time. That way, I can include some things in the pictures that I don't include in the text and vice versa." McNaughton's brilliant illustrations partner with his sometimes shocking, always funny, and generally perfectly-metered rhyme to make this book an oft-requested read. This is an ageless keeper.

5.0 out of 5 stars Boo! Did I scare ya?, February 23, 2003

By 

Valerie S. Fowler "valgal00" (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Making Friends with Frankenstein (Library Binding)

While there is no shortage of mind-stimulating poetry and literature for young kids these days, I still can't help but stand up and cheer for collections such as these. I think that helping kids learn the entertainment and enjoyment side of reading is so crucial at this age, and this book fills that need perfectly. McNaughton has a talent for giving you both the creeps and the giggles at the same time with his icky prose and imaginative illustrations.

Are all these Silverstein-esque poems about monster's? No, but they pretty much all appeal to the young readers sense of humor. "Call a doctor/Call the vet!/I've just been bitten/By teacher's pet!" The grossest one to read aloud would probably be "Ogre My Dead Body! (The Ogre's Song" which goes a little something like this, "An wen I needs a midnite snack,/Heer them hewmin bones go CRACK!/CRACK, CRACK, midnite snack,/Heer them hewmin bones go CRACK!" OK, this might not make the best bed-time reading. Better save it for day-light.

5.0 out of 5 stars Poem enthusiast at age 8, April 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Making Friends with Frankenstein (Hardcover)

I thought that the book was funny, and kind of gross. My favorite poem was "Georgie Porgie" because it was hilarious. I also like "Teacher's Pet" and "Heartless" because they were also hilarious. I would recommend this book to people who like poems, like me.