Customer Reviews

The Night at the Museum

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book has become a family favorite. A brilliant story by Milan Trenc. We read this story to our children before and after we go to the museum. We never get tired of telling the story--its not the normal kids book. The author does not dumb down his story --very refreshing. It really brings the museum to life. I'd love to purchase other books by this author.


NYC mom (2 children under 10)

If you're buying this because you enjoyed the Ben Stiller movie of the same title and were looking for that story in a picturebook format you may be disappointed. There aren't really any similarities between the two other than both are based in a New York Museum (Museum of Natural History) where exhibits come to life and both have a guy called Larry who gets a job as a security guard there. In this adventure though Larry is not working alone, in fact there seem to be more security guards than exhibits. Most of the exhibits (characters) from the movie are not in this book and this earlier written book version is also a lot less realistic (overlooking the exhibits coming to life factor) than the movie was. Combined with soft non scary drawn illustrations this book definitely pretty much just appeals to a much younger audience than that which would watch the movie.

The basic plot of this picture book is Larry gets a job as security guard in the Museum of Natural History. Larry is not the brightest individual and likes his new job as he looks like an airline pilot or policeman in his suit uniform. His boss instead of giving him an induction to his new workplace and telling him what goes on there each night just assigns Larry to mind the dinosaur skeletons, telling him the other guards will look after everything else. Larry soon falls asleep and when he awakens discovers the dinosaurs have all gone, except for one bone. As he goes to report the theft he discovers all the exhibits have come to life but where have the dinosaurs he is responsible for gone?

First published in 1993 this book is still just as good today as it was back then.

This picture book is a great addition to those who may have seen the recent movie with Ben Stiller. The book, which the movie was LOOSELY based on, describes a newly hired night watchman's experience in a natural science museum on his first night. All the exhibits come to life!

This is a great story for the kids -- the drawings are goofy enough not to scare and the story is one of persevering and finishing the job.

A great book for your shelves.

I took my son to see the film Night at the Museum recently. The film was excellent, clean and original entertainment and my son couldn't stop talking about it. I noticed in the opening credits that the film is based on a children's book so I thought I would pick it up for him to tide him over until this movie appeared on DVD.
When the book arrived, I was pleasantly surprised that the basic premise and overall feel of the film is captured in this book. The illustrations are colorful and playful throughout. The book was written many years before the film came about but most of the main elements of the film are in there including playful dino skeletons, tricky security guards and of course the monkey.
If you enjoyed the movie then this book is a great companion piece to an outstanding family film (which is unfortunately a rare beast these days :(

An enchanting, absorbing story with truly unique and wonderful illustrations.

I thought the book was appropriate for a young adult. I ended up giving it to my neighbors three year old son because it was more of a toddlers picture book. I felt the book was misrepresented online.