This week I’ll be featuring books for kids with a Halloween theme. Stop by each day for fun children’s books to help celebrate Halloween.
THE MONSTER IN MY BASEMENT
By: Dave Preston
Illustrated by: Heather Lynn Harris
Published: September 1, 2020
Publisher: City of Light Publishing
Fiction
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A young boy named Dave hears a groan coming from his basement so he goes to investigate. To his surprise, he finds a large, red, furry, and hungry monster. Dave thinks for a bit about what a monster might want to eat and wonders if maybe he would want to eat him. But, thankfully, this monster is also very friendly. His name is Howard and he offers to take Dave to his cave. There, Dave meets the monster’s mom and when she says it’s time to eat, he wonders again if he made a big mistake.
The story is written with a rhyming scheme and kids will love the repetitive feature of the shake, shake, shake on the pages. The illustrations are vivid and adorable with such great expressions on the faces of the monsters and on Dave.
This story offers an opportunity to chat about judging others before we get to know them and being willing to make new friends. The best part is there is a song at the end, titled “Howard” and kids will enjoy singing along. This book is perfect for a classroom read-aloud or a storytime feature at a library.
Check out this fun book trailer:
Whenever Dave Preston enters a school or a childcare center to sing his songs, you’re likely to hear a swelling chorus of, “Mr. Dave is here! Mr. Dave is here!” This singer/songwriter from Western New York has been delighting children of all ages with his original songs, such as Papa’s Car, The Lobster Dance, Munchkin Express, and The Boo Boo Song for more than ten years. “I Found a Monster in My Basement” is based on his original song Howard. Mostly retired now, Dave still visits the kids occasionally with his daughter who has followed in her dad’s footsteps. Dave lives in Brockport, New York with his wife, Debbie. They have three children and four grandchildren.
Heather Lynn Harris made her publishing debut by re-illustrating The Swing by Robert Louis Stevenson, and then wrote and illustrated Clover and the Shooting Star and retold and illustrated the award-winning Five Hungry Mice. Educated at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California, she is on a quest to share lost literary treasures with today’s young readers by bringing them to life with her illustrations. Her hope is that the power of wonder is stirred in all who read her books. She lives in Orchard Park, New York, with her husband and three children. For more information, check out Heather’s website, HERE.
To purchase a copy of THE MONSTER IN MY BASEMENT, click the photo below:
Check out all the Halloween Books, HERE.
Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to make a purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
Posted Under Book Review, Children's books, Dave Preston, fiction, Halloween, Heather Lynn Harris, Kid Konnection