Night of the Veggie Monster [Hardcover]

George McClements (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2008 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

When just a single pea touches the lips of this determined vegetable hater, an enormous battle of war and peas begins. But our hero doesn’t just cry, whine, or refuse to swallow. He turns into a VEGGIE MONSTER! That is until—gulp!—he accidentally swallows the pea, and realizes that maybe vegetables aren’t so bad after all. At least until broccoli night comes around. With inventive mixed-media illustrations and a short, snappy text that combines a child’s dinner-time drama with a hilarious parents’-eye-view, George McClements has created a wry and funny story that just might inspire a few veggie monsters out there to give peas a chance.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

GEORGE McCLEMENTS is a director for character art for Walt Disney Consumer Products. He has worked on developing products for such films as Dinosaur, Flubber, and Inspector Gadget. He is also the author and illustrator of The Last Badge and Jake Gander: Storyville Detective. He lives in Glendale, California with his wife and two sons.  

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens; First Edition edition (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599900610
• ISBN-13: 978-1599900612
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #490,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A big hit with the kids, February 5, 2010

By 

Amber Meadows (Logan, UT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night of the Veggie Monster (Hardcover)

I just borrowed this from the Library today and my 2 and 4 year old sons loved it! My 4 year old had me read it to him several times and he was cracking up through the whole book. We'll definitely be purchasing a copy for ourselves!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book!, November 19, 2009

By 

Primary Teacher - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Night of the Veggie Monster (Hardcover)

I am a Kindergarten teacher and after I read this book to my students, I ended up purchasing multiple copies to share with them. I love this book! My students love this book! I highly recommend this book!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Book Review: Night of the Veggie Monster, July 24, 2008

By 

T. Jonker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night of the Veggie Monster (Hardcover)

I can relate to kids who don't like their vegetables. I've been slow in coming around myself. As a kid, I was known to pull the old switcharoo and hide the veggies in the nearest napkin. "Night of the Veggie Monster" uses humor, inventive illustrations, and descriptive language in an attempt to reach kids who don't like the green stuff.

The story is told from the perspective of our unnamed protagonist and veggie disliker. Upon receiving his dinner plate containing three peas, his "we've been through this before" parents know what to expect. Our hero tries one of the peas and the transformation begins. Wiggly fingers, curled up toes, and watery eyes all lead up to the main event: full fledged veggie monster. The change does not last long however, as the monster eventually swallows said pea, realizing that maybe they're not as bad as he first thought.

The way the main character deals with the consumption of a solitary pea is something kids will identify with:

As the pea rests in my mouth, my eyes begin to water.

That's a great line, and one that true veggie haters will relate to. You don't want to touch the food with your tongue, you don't want to chew, you just kind of let it rest there in your mouth while you figure out what to do next.

The mixed media illustrations stand out for their originality. McClements creates a world where photographs mingle with simple line drawings. The characters appear to be drawn on brown paper, cut out, and placed in their surroundings. It's a unique touch.

While I have yet to test it out, "Night of the Veggie Monster" is a likely pick for storytime. It's vivid descriptions are ripe for the interpretin'. A solid picture book selection.