The Monster's Ring: A Magic Shop Book [Paperback]

Bruce Coville (Author), Katherine Coville (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Magic Shop Book

Twist it once, you’re horned and haired;
Twist it twice and fangs are bared;
Twist it thrice? No one has dared!
     Russell is sure that the ring is just a silly magic trick, but he follows the instructions and twists the ring twice anyway—and becomes a monster!

     Includes an author’s note.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This lively tale . . . [will] appeal, at any time, to anyone who, like Russell, is ‘very fond of monsters.’”—The New York Times Book Review

“A Halloween romp, with Katherine Coville’s illustrations revving up the chills and giggles . . . A junior Jekyll and Hyde.”—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

The Monster's Ring is a multi-voiced recording featuring author Bruce Coville himself as narrator and the talented Full Cast Audio family of actors. The roles of the children are played by real life children, which adds an authentic touch, and young Russell's transformation into a monster is guaranteed to delight young and old alike. Reminiscent of classic radio drama, this magical audiobook is even better because it contains the full, unabridged text. Special Feature: An exclusive afterword with author Bruce Coville, who talks about how he first got the idea for the Magic Shop books. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152064427
• ISBN-13: 978-0152064426
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Holidays & Festivals > Halloween
  • #17 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Bullies
  • #32 in Books > Children's Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Halloween

More About the Author

Bruce Coville was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1950. His family lived in farm territory, about twenty miles north of Syracuse. Bruce grew up around the corner from his grandparents' dairy farm, where he spent a great deal of time as a child, dodging cows and chores to the best of his ability. As a young reader he loved Mary Poppins and Dr. Dolittle, and still has fond memories of rising ahead of the rest of his family so he could huddle in a chair and read THE VOYAGES OF DR. DOLITTLE. He also read lots of things that people consider junk (Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and zillions of comic books). His only real regret is the time he spent watching television, when he could have been reading instead. (A mind is a terrible thing to waste!)

His first book, THE FOOLISH GIANT, was published in 1978. It was illustrated by his wife, Katherine, whom he had married in 1969. This was followed in 1979 by SARAH'S UNICORN, also illustrated by Katherine. After a long period of working separately, the Covilles began collaborating again with SPACE BRAT and GOBLINS IN THE CASTLE, both published in 1992.

Before getting published Bruce earned his living as a toymaker, a gravedigger, a cookware salesman, an assembly line worker, and finally as an elementary school teacher (second and fourth grades). He left teaching in 1981 to devote himself to becoming a full time writer - though it took another five years to achieve that goal!)

Bruce has published nearly 100 books, which have appeared in over a dozen countries around the world and sold more than sixteen million copies. Among his most popular titles are MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN, INTO THE LAND OF THE UNICORNS, and THE MONSTER'S RING. In 2001 he founded Full Cast Audio, an audiobook company dedicated to creating unabridged, full cast recordings of the best in children's and young adult literature.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Scary Change, April 12, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Monster's Ring (Magic Shop Books) (Paperback)

When you are alone do you ever think about monsters? Well if not then after you read this book you will. You will because of the monsters ring. The ring works like this: Step 1: You twist it once around and you get fangs as teeth in your mouth. When you twist it twice, which is step 2, you get horned and hairy. Then step 3: You twist the ring three times, but no person has dared.

In this book a kid named Russell is going to a Halloween party and he needed the perfect costume for it. I can make a text to world connection by saying every one had to go to get a costume. So he went all around town looking for the perfect costume but no store had one. So he went to the magic store and the clerk gave him a box with a ring in it and it was the monsters ring.

I personally think that the ring made him a horrible person and as the story went so did his attitude. The Monsters Ring is a flawless and very scary book. And also very interesting.
I would really recommend this book to lots of kids that like scary books and movies and to kids wirth the age of 10-13.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suspenseful, keeps the reader wondering., September 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Monster's Ring (Hardcover)

This book is great for every child that has a love for magic and a good imigination for fantasy. It touches the topic of school bullies and how to take care of them! I am using this book as part of my literature reading in my class for the month of October. I recommend that all children put on their magic rings and begin to read The Monster's Ring.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Opinon for this fantastic book!, February 17, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Monster's Ring: A Magic Shop Book (Hardcover)

I would recommend this book for boys of all ages. I thought this book was a great book, and it was very descriptive.