Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance

by Keith Graves

“A humorous rhyming text immediately engages readers . . . [Children] will respond to the comedy, the catchy rhythm, and especially the yuck factor.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books  Frank was a monster who wanted to dance. So he put on his hat, and his shoes made in France . . . and opened a jar and put ants in his pants! So begins this monstrously funny, deliciously disgusting, horrifyingly hilarious story of a monster who follows his dream. Keith Graves’ wacky illustrations and laugh-out-loud text will leave young readers laughing—clamoring for an encore performance.   “Ghoulish gross-outs abound . . . the punchline . . . will likely hit primary graders’ funny bones.” —Publishers Weekly

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Childrens, Monsters, Storytime, Fiction, Holiday

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1999

Reviews

[Ruhama · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was posted on PUBYAC recently--a librarian was concerned that it was too traumatic for preschoolers, especially after she used it in a storytime and the kids seemed stunned. So I decided to see if she had a right to be concerned, or if her kids just had an off day...

Frank(enstein) is a slightly grotesque green-headed monster who wants to go on Soul Train to strut his stuff. So he puts on his best outfit and heads over to the TV studio and wows the crowd. The problem is Frank is more wild than his body can handle--his brain pops out, and
then he proceeds to lose several parts of his body. He's very proud of himself, though, and doesn't mind that he fell apart. This book is no more gross or scary than Parts by Tedd Arnold, and most kids will enjoy the rhyming text that explains everything that is happening to Frank.
The "extras" on each page are quite interesting, as well. Frank has a cat with a Frankenstein head, and when Frank starts to come unstitched he says "uh oh," which I found rather funny. Reading this aloud does take a good humorous voice, and you will want to know your crowd before you use this silly story. Overall I think this book is fine for preschoolers, though I wouldn't use it with toddlers.

[Camie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Target audience 1st grade boys ...enough said!!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just pulled this one out for the season and I loved it. I laughed out loud. Happy Halloween.

[Addie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly. Maybe a little much for my 2 year old.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frankenstein (Frank) gets in the mood to groove. He heads to a local theater (after putting ants in his pants) and really wows the crowd. When he starts falling apart piece by piece the audience leaves, but Frank continues to strut his stuff.

A funny/creepy read aloud that will appeal to middle grade boys who dig gross stuff. PreK-2.

[Melissa]

Great for Halloween. Has the yuck factor.

[Cosette]

This book may have crossed a line... it's pretty gross.

[Katherine Cowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read at least a dozen picture books which feature an animal/creature/monster/human who really wants to dance/write/fly/mostly dance, is told they can't and is mocked, and ultimately redeems him/herself and dances/writes/flies/mostly dances.

This book was refreshing and different. A Frankenstein-esque patchwork monster decides he wants to dance, he does it amazingly to the wild approval of audiences. And then he starts to fall apart, and by the end of the book audiences have run away. It was an excellent story, in part because it stands in contrast to so many similarly-themed picture books. And my children thought it was hilarious.

[Charles Frierman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome kids book. Its about a (Frankenstein style) monster who had a hard time keeping himself together but loves dancing so much, that he doesn't care what anyone might think should he fall apart.

Favorite character: Frank

Favorite monment: when he says, " I might be a monster, but man I can dance."

[C.J. Ethington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my son’s new favorite book. He’s 5. After we read it 7 times the first night, I decided that my nieces (ages 3-6) needed to join in the fun. They loved it, too. My son has since made it a point to read this book every night. It is too much fun.

[Mariah Roze · Rating 5 out of 5]

My students LOVED this book! It was short and funny. Best of all it rhymed! Also, the illustrations are great :)

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun.

[Jeane · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my grandson's favorite book! Highly recommend for children! EEK!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect mix of fun and yuck factor for Halloween or a monster themed story time.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about Frank. He decided to pursue his dream and what a dance it was.

[Awjtf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny book! a little too gross for young ones!

[Danielle Mootz · Rating 4 out of 5]

We laughed our heads off with this one.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!! Currently on a list as a Christmas Gift... coupled with a stuffed zombie. So much fun!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that parents should read to their kids.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank is just doing what he loves! Cute book for a spooky night ♡

[Clarice Leader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny

Bought to read to my grandson he loved it. Read it twice and he giggled and giggled each I read it.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute short book

Cute short book. I bought it for a fun Halloween book for my daughter. She liked it. It has nicely drawn pictures.

[Eddie Garcia]

this is a very fun, tacky read that takes you on a fun dancing adventure

[Alicia Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

For: spooky fans; readers looking for a silly book about overcoming public opinion.

Possible red flags: cartoon gore and gross-out humor.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a bit of fun!

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This did not go as expected, but my boys loved it. I couldn't help but laugh with them.

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and a little gross. Sad that COVID robbed me of the opportunity to use it as a Halloween read-aloud

[Valerie Cunningham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's just say I should've previewed this book before reading it to my two-year old. I'm just glad he thought it was funny instead of being horrified when Frank started losing body parts.

[Adrianne Rosal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love what happens at the end to this monster!!

[Del · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect way to get kids into the spirit of the spooky season! Not that mine needs any encouragement. This is tons of icky fun.