There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
on April 16, 2015
I read this book to my five year old son last night and he liked it very much. He tells me it's a four star read for him, not a five. He liked it a lot, but he didn't love it. That's not surprising seeing as how he usually has no interest in anything that does not involve cars, trains, planes, or building something. LOL As a matter of fact, I was surprised at how much he really enjoyed the book. Anyhow, it's a really cute story about an adorable four year old boy, Eric, who gets to play with a friendly monster every night at bedtime. Eric hates going through his bedtime routine; you know, taking a bath, brushing his teeth, and putting on pjs. In order to entice Eric to get ready for bed, his mom tells him about the monster who will come to play with him once he's ready for bed. Of course Eric is intrigued and very quickly rushes through his routine. The story that unfolds is original, nicely written, and very entertaining; it is also beautifully illustrated. My son says the monster in the story reminds him of Sculley from Monster's Inc.; me too, except for the pink splotches on his coat. :-)
on January 29, 2016
Eric hates bedtime. The whole routine, not just going to sleep. Mom finally comes up with a plan, she tells him about the monster.
Eric is super excited about the monster, but in order to hear about the monster, he has to get ready for bed.
Mom makes the monster a snack a lot like Santa's snack. The rhyme to have the monster come and play is sweet and memorable.
"Monster, monster, one two, three... won't you come out and play with me?... And I have cookies for you!!!
Eric plays with the monster and finally gets worn out for sleep. This happens for a couple of nights. He gets ready for bed, leaves cookies, plays, and goes to bed. In the end, the monster turns out to be daddy, and I loved that part. LOVED! <--See I used caps.
This I bought while I had a kindle fire, but like so many of the other childrens books I've blogged about, it works just as well on the kindle paperwhite; with one exception. The print is a little small, unable to vary the size of the font, and I can't read it without my glasses. Still, the book is read weekly in my house.
Eric is super excited about the monster, but in order to hear about the monster, he has to get ready for bed.
Mom makes the monster a snack a lot like Santa's snack. The rhyme to have the monster come and play is sweet and memorable.
"Monster, monster, one two, three... won't you come out and play with me?... And I have cookies for you!!!
Eric plays with the monster and finally gets worn out for sleep. This happens for a couple of nights. He gets ready for bed, leaves cookies, plays, and goes to bed. In the end, the monster turns out to be daddy, and I loved that part. LOVED! <--See I used caps.
This I bought while I had a kindle fire, but like so many of the other childrens books I've blogged about, it works just as well on the kindle paperwhite; with one exception. The print is a little small, unable to vary the size of the font, and I can't read it without my glasses. Still, the book is read weekly in my house.
on November 1, 2013
Playtime with Monster (A Gorgeous Illustrated Children's Picture Book about a Cookie Eating Monster) by Michael Yu
Illustrated very colorful children's book about a little boy and going to bed.
Eric hated to get ready for bed, brushing his teeth, washing up, etc. His mom came up with a story about a monster that she told him.
He gets ready really quick and they head to the kitchen to get a plate of cookies for the monster. Then she tells him to say a simple rhyme and the monster may come out to play with him.
He is so surprised when he gets a horsey ride around his bedroom then he's put to bed.
This continues for many nights til the mother doesn't have any cookies, all she has is apples...will the monster come to play???
Excerpts from the author's other works are shown at the back of the story.
Illustrated very colorful children's book about a little boy and going to bed.
Eric hated to get ready for bed, brushing his teeth, washing up, etc. His mom came up with a story about a monster that she told him.
He gets ready really quick and they head to the kitchen to get a plate of cookies for the monster. Then she tells him to say a simple rhyme and the monster may come out to play with him.
He is so surprised when he gets a horsey ride around his bedroom then he's put to bed.
This continues for many nights til the mother doesn't have any cookies, all she has is apples...will the monster come to play???
Excerpts from the author's other works are shown at the back of the story.
on January 31, 2013
A very fun, well drawn, and colorful book with a main character right at the perfect age to himself hear the story told and marvel gleefully at its illustrations. Young children will have no trouble identifying with the eager, earnest, and just the littlest bit pesky main character. Nighttime blues and violets set the bedtime mood for a quick and upbeat romp into the imagination. The little boy's expressions of surprise, anticipation, and delight are likely to get a grin out of both children and adults, and the surprise ending is wonderful.
There is just a bit of word usage that may challenge the littlest ones and prompt questions in a good way. Instead of merely saying words and using "said" to show that they did so, characters "beamed," "replied," and "exclaimed" their dialogue here and there. That may be enough to prompt a question eventually, but kids will probably intuit the meanings of those words as the story is read without feeling it was disrupted. If kids are curious as to exactly what those words mean, good for them and, as a parent, good for you for having the opportunity to introduce some words a very young child may not be used to using or hearing. The word usage is otherwise simple and always charming.
Highly recommended. This is a book that's both gentle and sweet without being cloying or didactic. Very easy to enjoy and highly recommended.
There is just a bit of word usage that may challenge the littlest ones and prompt questions in a good way. Instead of merely saying words and using "said" to show that they did so, characters "beamed," "replied," and "exclaimed" their dialogue here and there. That may be enough to prompt a question eventually, but kids will probably intuit the meanings of those words as the story is read without feeling it was disrupted. If kids are curious as to exactly what those words mean, good for them and, as a parent, good for you for having the opportunity to introduce some words a very young child may not be used to using or hearing. The word usage is otherwise simple and always charming.
Highly recommended. This is a book that's both gentle and sweet without being cloying or didactic. Very easy to enjoy and highly recommended.
TOP 1000 REVIEWERon November 22, 2012
I read a lot. Every day I read a lot, and out of every children's book I have seen...well, ever...this is hands down the best of the best. My kids fell completely in love with this book from the very first page. The pictures are great and the story is even better. I have bought a lot of kids books for the kindle in the last year and been disappointed with a number of them because the story was too short or too long or the pictures looked lousy on the kindle, but this one was perfect. The story was just long enough to keep the kinds entertained without them getting bored. The end of this book was a surprise even to the adults in the house and made all of us smile. The kids insisted that we keep this one and read it again. If you have kids, I highly recommend downloading this wonderful book!
on May 19, 2016
My class and my son loved this book! It really kept their attention!! Adorable illustrations and story!!! Full of awesomeness!! :)
on October 27, 2014
The story is about Eric, a little boy who resists going to bed. His mother convinces him that if he leaves out cookies and does a special chant, a monster will come and play with him. Eric becomes compliant and gets to play with a monster. In the end, Eric lets it slip that he knows his daddy is the monster. But the game continues anyway.
The story is clever, warm, and intriguing. Children will be curious to learn where the monster came from. The ending is satisfying and logical.
The illustrations are great, full-page, bright and quite three-dimensional. The characters have expressive bodies and faces.
Unfortunately, the author has a habit of showing and then telling, sometimes even things that were also showing in the picture. For example: “Eric asked excitedly, jumping up and down.” This overwriting slows down the pace of an otherwise perfect book.
The story is clever, warm, and intriguing. Children will be curious to learn where the monster came from. The ending is satisfying and logical.
The illustrations are great, full-page, bright and quite three-dimensional. The characters have expressive bodies and faces.
Unfortunately, the author has a habit of showing and then telling, sometimes even things that were also showing in the picture. For example: “Eric asked excitedly, jumping up and down.” This overwriting slows down the pace of an otherwise perfect book.
on November 23, 2012
Bedtime is not fun at all especially for toddlers who have the infinitesimal energy. This story is really fun, I have enjoyed reading it. Why, who ever said that bedtime story is for children only? My nephew is still not able to read, but he is entertained by the visuals.
The illustrations are life-like, or shall we say, book-life. Eric, just like any other little boys, has a lot going on his mind. He hates to wash, brush and to be sent to bed. Everyday has been a constant battle. So a mother with one huge imagination is the answer. His mother introduced the "monster" to Eric. Kids in general are afraid of monsters, but not Eric. This has been going on for several nights, until it became Eric's habit. I love the idea of this book, with this; kids will see monsters on a different light. Monsters are now our little kid's best friend who will put them to sleep. Why cookies? Suddenly, I thought of cookie monster. Just brilliant!!!! Every kid certainly knows who Cookie Monster is. I just love the twist in the end. Never saw it coming. This certainly teaches the kids the importance of hygiene. It will not hurt that you go to bed all washed and brushed up. A great bedtime story, both the parents and kids will love.
The illustrations are life-like, or shall we say, book-life. Eric, just like any other little boys, has a lot going on his mind. He hates to wash, brush and to be sent to bed. Everyday has been a constant battle. So a mother with one huge imagination is the answer. His mother introduced the "monster" to Eric. Kids in general are afraid of monsters, but not Eric. This has been going on for several nights, until it became Eric's habit. I love the idea of this book, with this; kids will see monsters on a different light. Monsters are now our little kid's best friend who will put them to sleep. Why cookies? Suddenly, I thought of cookie monster. Just brilliant!!!! Every kid certainly knows who Cookie Monster is. I just love the twist in the end. Never saw it coming. This certainly teaches the kids the importance of hygiene. It will not hurt that you go to bed all washed and brushed up. A great bedtime story, both the parents and kids will love.
on March 27, 2015
Last night I read this book to my 3 year old, using my Kindle Fire HD6... And he snuggled into me, completely rapt. He is absolutely obsessed with monsters, and the idea of a monster that comes out at night to play was thrilling to him. The art in this book is really nice and there was even an "easter egg" of Mike Wakowski from Monster's Inc. in one panel. The twist at the end is super cute... And now my son is asking me to make cookies so every night he can call a monster to play with him before bed :)
I'll be purchasing more books from Michael Yu in the future.
I'll be purchasing more books from Michael Yu in the future.
