Monsters

by Russell Hoban, Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

John's obsession with drawing monsters takes him to a doctor, where a startling discovery is made about the degree of reality of John's drawings

Genres: Picture Books, Monsters, Family, Fantasy, Humor, Philosophy, Childrens

28 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Russell Conwell Hoban was an American expatriate writer. His works span many genres, including fantasy, science fiction, mainstream fiction, magical realism, poetry, and children's books. He lived in London, England, from 1969 until his death. (Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

John’s parents are worried that their son seems to have a rather morbid fascination with drawing monsters and when he begins to draw one so big that it won’t fit on the paper, they decide to ask his art teacher for advice: ‘his monsters are in a class by themselves!’ Not what we were hoping to hear, think the parents, so they head over to a shrink, Dr. Plunger, who prescribes tablets (for the parents) and asks to see the boy. When Dr. Plunger meets John, he encourages him to complete his masterpiece and something extraordinarily macabre happens.
I adored this book. Again Hoban touches on deep questions that are, perhaps, out of reach to many but there for us to toy and play with. This book is brought to life by Blake’s parodied child-like illustrations of monsters which, I feel, is some of his best work.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book about a little boy who loves to draw monsters. Big, tall, short, ugly, thin, fat, drooling, covered in splotches or teeth, John draws them all! When John begins to draw "the biggest monster ever" his parents are worried because it looks so real...
Perfect for young elementary school ages.

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and exploring the illustrations! It is about a young boy - John- who loves drawing monsters, of different sizes, shapes, colours etc! His parents are concerned by this, and encourage him to draw 'nice things' such as houses and trees instead of monsters. But John keeps drawing monsters, prompting his parents to seek help from his art teacher and doctor, who both love John's monster drawings and encourage him to draw more! There is an exciting unexpected twist at the end of the story too!

I think children will be able to make lots of world to text connections throughout this story, when thinking about the things they themselves enjoy drawing. Maybe they have been discouraged by people around them to draw what they want to.

The illustrations of John's monsters are so interesting, and I definitely think this book could be used to create a receptive context for art and DT work - maybe making and drawing their own monsters. Children could then write a descriptive piece about their monster, and an adventure story. I will definitely consider using this book with Year 2. There are also plenty of opportunities for discussing grammar in context in this story, e.g. similes, adjectives, expanded noun phrases, how to write lists, using direct speech etc.

[Maughn Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

The late American philosopher Gareth B. Matthews reviewed this book in his column on philosophy in children's literature, "Thinking in Stories," for the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children, available here: https://www.montclair.edu/iapc/review.... He wrote, "No doubt it is the violence of John’s monsters that most worries his parents.... Perhaps, like the player-goer Aristotle portrays in his Poetics, John finds a healthy catharsis in the terrible events of the artistic imagination. More like Plato’s Socrates in Book X of the Republic, John’s parents seem to think that the violence of art should simply be done away with. What do the children in your family, or classroom, think? This provocatively funny and wisely ironic story gives us all a chance to join that ancient debate. Alas! We cannot eliminate the violence from our society, or entirely protect our children from it but we can discuss its role in our lives and our imaginations. We can discuss that role even with our children – or better, especially with our children."

[Maria Martins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting story showing how sometimes adults can hinder the creativity of a child because they fail to see the intelligence and talent in what they've done. I think its incredibly smart how Hoban doesn't depict the parents to be intentionally cruel or abusive, instead portraying them as worried. Often, adults may think they are doing what is best for their child and may hinder them for certain passions through good intentions. John's parents fail to see his creativity and talent, instead only focusing on what he is drawing/ making. Blakes illustrations are quite light-hearted paired with Hoban's humorous writing, however, if you look closely the themes within it have a resounding note of sadness.
Overall, an enjoyable read reminding adults that talent and creativity should go hand in hand with passion.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

John loves to draw monsters. One day he begins to draw the tail of a very large monster... and the rest is quite a surprise! I loved the illustrations that are his drawings. This is a very well told story!

[Katie Beattie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't understand the message of the book but enjoyed it all the same.

[Dhwani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book left a smile on my face

[Erin O'connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a story about a little boy called John who can't stop drawing monsters. He draws all sorts of monsters in all sorts of ways. One day he starts a monsters masterpiece needing more and more paper. Eventually his parents become worried and take him to see a therapist. He goes into the therapy room and when he comes out we see that the room is filled with monsters.

This is a lovely book about how we should value our own strange interests and about the power of the mind. It is definitely an interesting book to read with young children as John's ultimate defeat of the therapist and his parents attempt to control him gives the power firmly back to him as a child and to the wild and interesting monsters in his mind. Similar to Not Now Bernard in its somewhat unsettleing ending this book is equally ticklish.

[Christiane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, dear. This is not a nice book at all. A perfect addition to my list of "surprise" (usually of the unpleasant variety) ending books.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book!

[The Book Box]

Mama read this to me and my big brother.