The Lake Mess Monster

by Beverly Komoda

The people vacationing at Lake Mess are terrorized by a monster they find there until they come up with a plan that pleases everyone--even the monster

Genres: Picture Books

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1981

Reviews

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an interesting book that honestly had me hooked. The book is about a lake where all the townspeople go to have fun, but a monster shows up randomly on the lake and is very hostile towards the townspeople. The townspeople figure out that the reason he is hostile is because it is lonely, so they give him their floaty toys to keep him company and they make do with the monster as a part of the lake. The book reads like a movie. Monster discovered in local lake, townspeople try to get it to leave as they try to throw stuff at it or try to catch it, but to no avail. It was a fun little book with a nice artistic style, and while the book isn't a classic and many people wouldn't know it, i think its fun and i definitely enjoyed it.

[Emily Smithberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Traditional Fantasy
Grade Range: Early Primary (K-1)
I thought this was a fun spin on the classic story of the Loch Ness Monster. But this story was not spooky at all and actually had a positive ending. I liked the themes of friendship and problem solving.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one of Beau's favorites!

[Jared Burton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Komoda, Beverly. The Lake Mess Monster. United States: Dutton Children’s Books, 1980.

Genre: Fiction – Monsters

This story is about a group of people who are spending summertime at Lake Mess. Suddenly a monster appears and does not play nice with the people because they do not know what the monster wants. First the people try to get rid of the monster but fail. Eventually the people figure the monster is lonely and wants a friend. The people use blow up floating toys to substitute a friend for the monster. The monster is satisfied and the book ends with the people and the monster getting along.



I think this book is a good choice because it teaches children to accept the not so pleasant things in life. These things could include characteristics of themselves or others in their lives. The book also touches on things that children could learn from such as problem solving (trial and error), teamwork, and acceptance of others. Also, the pictures, though not very detailed in definition, have a lot going on in them which was always a personal favorite of mine. I think these types of picture books have a lot of potential in regards to letting parents teach the child more than what is in the text itself, by using things that occur in the pictures.