This Monster Cannot Wait!

by Bethany Barton

Irrepressible Stewart the monster is back, and he has big He's going camping in five days! But if he could just change the clocks, build a time machine, or make this book move faster, he could go camping NOW. Of course, Stewart's parents know that good things come to those who wait – and eventually Stewart will learn that, too.

In this hilarious follow-up to This Monster Needs a Haircut , Bethany Barton channels her inner preschooler and shows readers that even the most exuberant, enthusiastic, in-the-moment monsters can be persuaded to wait. Eventually.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Monsters, Humor, Fiction, Storytime, Fantasy

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 18, 2013

About the author

artist/author/illustrator. superpowers include freckles & a loud laugh.

Reviews

[Annie Friedlander · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is totally relatable for any kid (or adult) who has ever had to wait for anything. It captures the sense of wanting time to go faster through the story of Stewart, a monster who "cannot wait" to go camping. The lesson in the story is an important one for students and adults - why worry about or hope for the future when we can make the most of the now?

This book also plays with the fact that it is indeed a book, as Stewart tries to turn the pages faster to get to the end of the story when he will be camping. With playful illustrations and fun text tidbits sprinkled throughout this book is a fun read with a powerful message.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age: K-3rd grade

Perhaps it was the absurd impatience or the multiple attempts at getting something he can't have, but Stewart reminded me of Mo Willems' Pigeon more than in Stewart's last book.

I loved when he tried to speed up the book and interacted with format. I'm a sucker for those types of books (The Monster at the End of This Book, We Are in a Book with Elephant and Piggie). This librarian cannot wait for the next in the series!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hilarious story of one little Monster who can not wait for their break from school so he can go camping. He has five days until they can leave and he just does not think that he can be patient enough. He tries everything he can think of to make time move faster, but nothing works. Then his friend teaches him a very important lesson. Once he finally get to go camping he is so happy. This is a great story about learning to be patient and how to cope when you just can't.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book about learning to live in the now and appreciating what you have. That monster could NOT wait for his camping trip and school was taking forever to end for the year! Sigh! It will NEVER get here! EVER!!!! No, he'd probably die from dramatically throwing himself on the bed before he got to go camping. Changing the clocks and calendars surely wasn't doing the trick. His buddy was already missing her friends and teachers...but school was still going on! This monster thinks that's crazy talk and wonders why his friend doesn't just enjoy the time she has left instead of missing out on it because of the moping. This monster had an epiphany! Guess what?!?! The camping trip finally arrived and this monster learned a valuable lesson about patience and living in the moment. The end.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stewart the Monster cannot wait to go camping! He can't wait to do most things, actually. But this time, he has to wait FIVE WHOLE DAYS! He tries to make time go faster, tries to build a time machine, tries to trick his parents--nothing works. He just has to wait. When he goes to school, Stewart discovers that his best friend Feliz wants time to slow down. She doesn't want to leave her friends, her teacher, or the class pet to go on vacation. Then Stewart realizes that both of them are so worried about the future that they're missing out on right now!

Good for preschool storytimes.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute. Monster is going to go camping in a week. He can't wait. So he tries to rush the book to the end by turning and ripping pages. He gets put in time out, has to help fix the book, and apologize to us, the readers. Then he discovers what is good about the here and now, so decides to enjoy it. Suddenly, it's time to go camping.

[Sheri S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book about a monster who is really looking forward to going camping. I liked how the main character comes up with a creative way of helping the time pass more quickly. Additionally, the illustrations are very colorful, especially on the last few pages of the book.

[Nadina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute and a good book about patience. I liked the plot of the story and how it was written. I liked the structure as well. I was not a huge fan of the illustrations personally, though maybe kids would. I guess I would really give it 3.5 stars but I am rounding it down for personal reasons.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my sons favorites! He wanted to read this one over and over.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 for poorly executed illustrations. Not my cup of tea.

Themes: monsters, humor, camping.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monster can't wait to go camping when school ends. He tries everything he can to make time go faster but it doesn't work. He learns a valuable lesson in patience.
2.5 star

[Jazmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a fun book about patience. I just wish there was more of a lesson. It is a really nice looking book as well.

[Joseph · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hot mess.

[Nanny B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story on learning patience.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed your a lot more than I thought I was going to, probably because the monster was impatient about getting to go camping, and I can relate. Fun pictures and characters.

[Fjóla · Rating 2 out of 5]

In view of recent policy changes on Goodreads I'm beginning to feel not only guilty, but downright self conscious every time I come across a children's book I'm not crazy about. And now especially if written by a Goodreads author. But, here's the thing: If I had to "like" every single book we read, there would be no way for me to tell apart the books, and no point in using my collection to get new recommendantion. Anyway, this is not a bad book, and there's certainly stuff in it that will amuse many a kid. It's just that I really didn't care for the pictures and the illustration style. So much that I probably would not have read through the whole book, had I not been reading it together with my kid. He wasn't honestly all that much into the book either, but then again he's never been much of a monster fan, and incidentally he's so fanatically against camping trips too that it boggles my mind. BUT, I could see this book having great appeal for a slightly older child, say a six or seven year old reading it by himself, and then the pictures, although not to my personal taste, have a number of details / diagrams that may be fun to dwell on. And should you like it, there's another monster book to read as well: This Monster Needs a Haircut.

[Kate McGinty aka Caryn Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vacation is a week away, and Stewart cannot wait to go camping. In fact, he's so impatient that he has taken to resetting clocks, renumbering calendars, and even destroying this very book in an attempt to rush things. Nothing helps until he learns his friend at school doesn't want it to be vacation time, and they both realize they've been living so much in the future that they haven't appreciated the present.

The spazzy, impatient Stewart is hilarious, and many kids will likely enjoy his shenanigans as he tries to rush time -- while also sympathizing with his plight. The implied lesson is an important one for young children, who often wish they could control time, and it's even a good reminder for many adults.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems that there are an endless number of monster picture books being published as of late. I enjoyed the humor and the moral behind the story. I think as adults we can have a hard time being patient too, even more so perhaps. Of course the anticipation of going on vacation is *almost* as fun as actually being on vacation, we should focus on the now and not be so eager to fast forward. As I type this, I think this book is actually quite deep. That's what I love about books like this one, the adults will enjoy it just as much as the kids. Good choice for a storytime about camping or going on vacation.

[Krys (Krys Reads)]

My final thoughts:

Via Black 'n Write Reviews

So this book has a great lesson for little ones on how important patience is, whether it’s waiting for cookies to bake, a book to finish, or a very important family trip. Nice simple sentences that are easy to understand, but also the font is varied to demonstrate Stewart’s excitement.

- Krys

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A monster learns an exercise in patience while he waits to go camping.

Artwork was rendered using Higgins ink and was finished in Photoshop.

I liked the aspects that related to how monsters go camping because it's a bit different than how humans camp. The duality of one monster wanting to speed time up while the other wants to slow time down was a pretty cool way to tie in the message of patience and live in the now.

PreK-2.

[Laura Filtness · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for boys or girls! The monster in the book is so excited about going camping he just can not wait. In fact he is so impatient that he tries to hurry the book along, by puling the pages of the book which make for some great illustrations. Great for individual or small group use. I love the message that good things come to those who wait.

[Sarah S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patience. Living in the moment. These are important lessons for little monsters. They're easier to take when the main character is a snaggle-toothed monster named Stewart who tries to hurry up to vacation time with a cardboard box time machine and by turning the pages in this book to get to the end.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good lesson, but I didn't like the part about rushing and tearing the book. It felt like it was trying to be We Are In a Book, but that idea of the monster knowing he's a book wasn't carried all the way through.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is in the same vein as "The Monster at the End of this Book"...but much less charming. I did smile a few times and I think kids would get a kick out of it, but Grover will always be my favorite book-destroying monster.

[Liz Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really difficult read-aloud for me, but a fun book for a reader on his/her own. We can all identify with being SO EXCITED that we cannot wait. Lots of great "voice" in this story--adults will enjoy it, too! Monster finds that he keeps himself busy with day-to-day activities, time flies.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a "mirror" experience for any child who has had to wait to do or for something and the impatience that comes with it. Also, students can learn about dialogue and labeling by reading this book.

[Benjamin Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for a kid who has something fun coming up on the horizon who still has things they need to do. The meta aspect of the characters turning the pages was used in just the right amount to be effective without wearing out its welcome.

[Ryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Monster gets to go camping, but he has to wait a week for the trip. He will do,anything to make the time go faster. The artwork, and extra “talk” make this book painful to finish. Monster is not the only one who needed patience.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impatient monster attempts premature departure from story.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit didactic.