The Monster Trap [Paperback]

Stephen Krensky (Author), Dean Morrissey (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

When Paddy goes on an overnight visit to his grandfather's, he thinks his grandfather's house is bigger and darker and spookier than he remembered. When things start to go bump in the night, Paddy is sure that he's hearing monsters. So Pop does what any grandfather would do -- he builds a monster trap.

The next night, the monster trap is set, baited with a delicious (to a monster) snack that Pop assures Paddy no monster will be able to resist. Paddy waits for a sign that the trap has snared a monster, but he soon discovers that the trap doesn't work in quite the way that Pop imagined.

Lavishly illustrated with Dean Morrissey's spectacular oil paintings, the monster trap will delight fans of his earlier works, as well as anyone who has ever wondered just what it was they heard under their bed or deep in their closet in the middle of the night.

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

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2–Paddy is visiting his grandfather, the proprietor of "Pop's Place," a junk shop. After listening to "Monster Radio Theater," the youngster is sure he hears monsters downstairs, so Pop uses bits of junk to create a monster trap, baited with Limburger cheese and fruitcake. The next morning, the trap is empty, so they build a bigger, better one. Two incarnations later, they discover why they aren't catching anything–the bug-eyed, furry invaders are simply having too much fun treating the newest trap like a jungle gym. Paddy joins them, while Pop whips up a feast. Morrissey's dark illustrations capture the 1940s feel of the story, and the whimsical monsters will catch the eyes of kids. However, the story offers little suspense or excitement, and seems mostly an excuse to show off the fanciful illustrations of creatures and the contraptions that might catch them.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Award-winning illustrator Dean Morrissey began his painting career in the 1970s. He always had story ideas for his paintings, and in 1990 he began writing and illustrating the highly successful children's book Ship of Dreams, a recipient of The New York Times, Best Illustrated Book Award in 1994. Infusing the pictures with texture, color, light, and weight, Dean Morrissey creates a compelling atmosphere for his stories.

Dean Morrissey lives on the South Shore of Massachusetts with his wife and son. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (July 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060525002
• ISBN-13: 978-0060525002
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,864,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars So Cute... the Art is Awesome, January 28, 2010

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Monster Trap (Paperback)

"The Monster Trap" is an adorable book that deserves to be read by more kids. The artwork is so cute and the 'monsters' positively sweet; just the sort of thing that might convince a small child that they want to meet 'monsters' instead of avoiding them.

The story begins when a young boy named Paddy visits his Grandfather, who lives over a shop which looks like an antique store. Together they listen to a radio show called "Monster Radio Theater". This gets Paddy's imagination working overtime and in response to his fears, his grandfather creates a trap. When the first trap fails, he builds another. And low and behold -- and much to Grandfather's surprise -- they catch some monsters. Well... not exactly catch. For you see, the contraption they built is more like a monster playground.

This book is a Good Read-aloud, and just the thing to take the edge off of nighttime fear. Do check it out.

a Pam T mini review
(booksforkids-reviews)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great imagination, October 12, 2006

By 

DD67 "babyonahill" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Monster Trap (Hardcover)

My 5 year old sons loves this book, but I must say that some of the other children I have read this book to didn't like it and made them think too much about monsters. My son doesn't get freaked out easily and can appreciate a book with a lot of imagination. The grandfather helps his grandson build a monster trap after hearing a "Monster Theatre show" on an old time radio. Each night they find no monsters so each night they find more stuff laying around the shop to improve on the monster trap, until there is a wonderful monster trap and lots of monsters. Not a real long story, around 25 pages of reading and a sentence to a small paragraph per page. Illustrations are very nice. A lot to talk about.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightfully Imaginative!!!, August 16, 2005

By 

D. Pramanik (Gilroy, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Monster Trap (Hardcover)

I credit this book with transforming my sons fear of monsters to actually loving them. He now even has an imaginary friend that is a monster! That particular monster now guards under his bed, so he can sleep. In addition to my son, I also loved the book. Imagination abounds!