Purrr-fect For Halloween
Or Any Other Monstrously Scary Day
Worth Singing About!
Description
| There’s a monster in Dave’s basement! His name is Howard and he’s very hungry. Howard invites Dave to dinner. But will Dave eat dinner or BE dinner? The thought makes Dave shake a little bit, shake a little bit, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake. Has Dave made a big mistake? |
The Monster in My Basement began as a song called Howard the Monster. (The author is a children’s musician too!). Visit Howard the Monster here and read along with the music and lyrics printed in the back of the book!
Details
- Title The Monster in My Basement
- Author Dave Preston
- Illustrator Heather Lynn Harris
- Publisher City Of Light Publishing
- Imprint Criss Cross Applesauce
- Publication Date October 15, 2020
- Pages 36
My Thoughts
Oh my goodness. This is a book that’s impossible not to love. And since I have several elementary teachers in my family I can imagine this being read and then sung in classrooms.
I liked it before I listened to the song sung by children’s musician Dave Preston, but after hearing the catchy tune I love it. And as you can see, the illustrations by Heather Lynn Harris are adorable. I can imagine these pages being flipped through while singing.
And the monster . . . really, not so scary after all. Okay, I guess that is debatable. But he won’t always give that appearance. Many times preconceived attitudes can change when we take time to really get to know each other.
I highly recommend this fun book and song to everyone. Music teachers, classroom teachers, parents and caregivers, this is a book to pick up for your little ones.
Concerns
I found only one itty bitty concern that can be taken care of easily. When the “monster” asks the boy to come with him, the boy does end up following. He mentions
I tried to answer, “No, sir,” but I found it hard to talk.
So he grabbed my hand and we began to walk.
Okay, we all know leaving home with a monster is probably not a great idea. Folks, this is a storybook. It can easily be mentioned that it’s a song and a silly story. Not real. No one should allow themselves to be lead from home by a monster or any other creature.
So, in my way of thinking, this is a concern barely worth mentioning.
What I Liked
Everything! This fun little book even comes with piano music (melody) at the back. And in case you missed the link earlier, I’m including it again.
The Story Behind Howard the Monster
My thanks to City of Light Publishing for a copy of this book and the ability to post my opinion of it.
Rating
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.
