Πρώτος απ’ το τέλος

by William Bee, Kate Hindley (Illustrator), Αντώνης Παπαθεοδούλου (Translator)

Ο Άλμπερτ φέρνει τον Σίντνεϊ, το κατοικίδιο τέρας του,
να λάβει μέρος στον ΔΙΑΓΩΝΙΣΜΟ ΚΑΛΥΤΕΡΟΥ
ΚΑΤΟΙΚΙΔΙΟΥ ΤΕΡΑΤΟΣ ΣΤΟΝ ΚΟΣΜΟ.
Νικητής θα ανακηρυχθεί όποιος:
1) έχει τα περισσότερα ΠΑΡΑΣΙΤΑ,
2) ΜΥΡΙΖΕΙ πιο απαίσια,
3) ΠΕΤΑΕΙ ψηλότερα,
4) έχει τα περισσότερα ΣΠΥΡΑΚΙΑ και
5) έχει την πιο ΚΑΥΤΗ ΑΝΑΣΑ!
Τι λέτε, θα τα καταφέρει ο Σύντνεϊ;
Το μόνο σίγουρο είναι ότι λατρεύει τα αφρόλουτρα!

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

44 pages, Hardcover

First published January 6, 2015

About the author

William Bee was born in London but now lives in the English countryside. In addition to writing children’s books, he races a vintage sports car, is an international skier, and when at home tends his lawns and meadows.

Reviews

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to like this book but I hate the non-factual things presented as fact. I get that this is a fantasy book. These monsters are not real creatures. But there's nothing to suggest that biological rules are different in this particular fantasy. There's still a boy, and an auditorium; the world is recognizable, and many, many things are the same.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh the chuckling going on at my desk. This was a fun, silly, off beat, cute, amusing fun etc book.

Just a good time through and through!!

[Robin Raines-Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodness, the Embarrassment! Goodness, the laughs! I thoroughly enjoyed this Hairy, Hovering, filled with parasites, Smelly book.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny read-aloud. Fart-o-meter...LOL!

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this one at all.

1) there are so many things wrong with the basic facts of it. For example, NO! Warts are caused by **viruses** NOT failing to keep oneself clean.

2) the pictures are chaotic

3) the text is repetitive and tedious rather than the clever that I think they are supposed to be

4) what kind of blankety-blanks give a worst in show award at a competition, especially one where the entrants are children and their pets?!?

I get the message that the book is trying to convey. It is even a good one. Sadly, for me, the rest of the book took too much away from the reading to be redeemed even by what it is trying to say.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly-gross humor about a young boy and his pet monster. Alright, and definitely had some funny parts, but a little long for a storytime read - maybe better for elementary schoolers than my usual crowd. That would also work too, because the pictures are so busy. That means there's a lot going on, fun little details to notice, but it also means it's easier to appreciate in a one-on-one read, or an early reader reading for themselves, rather than in a storytime audience.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Albert enters his pet monster, Sidney, into the Best Pet Monster in the World competition hoping to win a big prize. But Sidney can't measure up to the monsters with the hairiest warts, the hottest breath, and the smelliest farts (which was my favorite part...hysterical!). But he still wins a prize.

This was an adorable book! It is sure to get giggles out of little ones.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This might be a fun book to read when you're talking about choosing criteria to judge by and talking about judging by the world standards and by your own standards. And whether we should let the world decide for us what is good or whether some other source of standards would be better.

As the book says, who wants a big hairy, ... smelly ...pet monster anyway?

[Cameron Hendrix · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fun and very stylish book, the art alone grabs my attention so well and how it can go from soft cute creatures to big scary monsters real quick and I love it. I especially enjoy the ending, who wants a big smelly hairy monster when you can have one like Sydney lol. Its a very fun time with its repetition and great art style.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I think of William Bee, I think of the Stanley series, which our daughter LOVED when she was younger. So seeing this was different, but highly enjoyable! Albert enters his monster in a contest, but his monster isn't... monster-y. Loved the pictures and the story. Fantastic ending.

[Nele Handwerker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein liebevoll, lustiges Bilderbuch über einen Wettbewerb zum gruseligsten Monster. Gewinnen ist nicht das wichtigste, sondern das man einander gern hat. Eine wahre und wichtige Botschaft!

[Liz Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun! And so much to see in the illustrations!

[Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creative

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy enters his monster into a contest for Best Monster, but his pet doesn't have any of the horrible qualities the judges are looking for.

Fun illustrations.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, but best for those who love grossness and potty humor.

[Jennifer Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Who wants a big hairy, high-flying, parasite-infested, smelly, flammable pet monster, anyway? Especially when you can have a big cuddly, loves me best friend."

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story! Really funny, and gross, with great illustrations. Great read-aloud for K-3rd grade.

[Maria Thermann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book's wonderful illustrations are sadly let down by an overall unimaginary and repetitive text. While the illustrations are very funny and entertaining, the text seems strangely devoid of humour and somewhat jaded. An attempt at being funny has been made, but by and large it falls flat in comparison to the illustrations and feels rather forced. Being funny, the reader gathers, is not something that comes naturally to William Bee, the author of the text.

Plot: A little boy, Albert, enters his pet monster Sidney in a "Best in Show" competition for the Best Pet Monster in the World. Unfortunately, the five categories in which monsters can compete all work against Sydney. This pet monster is neither warty, nor smelly, nor can he hover, breathe fire or boast of a parasite infestation. At the end of the competition, which is broadcast live on Oinkingham TV, Sidney and Albert beat all the records: they are awarded the Worst In Show prize.

At the show Albert is embarrassed that his pet monster friend scores ZERO all along the way, but he comforts himself with the words "who'd want a pet monster that farts/breathes fire/hovers all day/is full of parasites anyway? Cycling home he realises that none of the categories matter, because the one category in which Sydney will always outshine other pet monsters is that he's a really great friend.

It's a lovely story, but badly told. Why is there always one judge in the competition who faints? Surely the writer could have come up with something a little more imaginative and funny than this?

I loved the reference to Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, but doubt that children reading picture books will get this visual joke.

[Venus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum

This is the kind of book that I lovingly like to refer to as a chuckler. It isn't laugh out loud funny, but each spread would produce a bit of a chuckle, a smile, and a feeling of good fun. I love the play on a dog's best in show contest, with typical things you would expect from a monster contest. Most parasites, smelliest farts, loudest burps. It's good old silly fun.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grades PK-2. Albert is so proud of his loving monster, that he decides to enter him in a contest. Monsters compete to win prizes for most parasites, biggest warts and smelliest farts. Albert gets more and more ashamed and embarrassed when his monster doesn't win.

But the contest doesn't measure friendship, kindness and love-- all more important than a trophy. Gentle reminder about competition and standardized testing.

[Christine Turner]

ATA Storytime Kit -- Monsters, etc..

William Bee's clever tale of celebrating every kind of winner, warts optional, is brought to vibrant life by Kate Hindley's hilarious illustrations. It's time for the Best Monster in the World Competition, and Albert can't wait to enter his very own monster, Sidney, in the contest! Albert is absolutely sure that his pet is a winner. But, as monsters go, is sweet, well-behaved Sidney really the smelliest, dirtiest, most parasite-ridden monster of all?

[Suburban Homeschooler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was almost great! Extremely charming illustration and misdirection of what "winning "actually means in this contest. However, I'm frustrated with authors feeling that they need to include passing gas related humor in their books in an attempt to appeal to young boys. Sure… Boys will chuckle… But stay classy authors!! :)

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Albert has entered his pet monster, Sidney in a competition to decide the best pet monster in the world. Sidney is neat, clean, friendly, kind - all the things one would want in a monster, right? Well, maybe not for this particular contest.
Illustrations are charming and colorful. Some repetition of text helps reinforce reading skills and encourages participation from listeners.

[Zaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when a boy brings his monster to a monsters competition. The monster was cute and totally disappointing. I liked the crappy categories, the humor, the unusual story and the sweet conclusion. The art was quite nice too, with details to look at, some good expressions and, of course, monsters!

[Kortney Lyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a cute fiction book (genre). This book talks about a pet monster not winning any of the categories in the competition. It is at the end of the book when they get an award for worst in the show. I would use this book in my classroom to teach my students that winning is not everything that having fun with your pet monster is what is most important.

[Marissa Elera · Rating 3 out of 5]

High quality illustration and repetition will keep storytime audiences engaged. The text is just on the higher side of average, but it is the gross out appeal and mention of farts that will make this a crowd pleaser.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is immediately a favorite...not sure why because it's not my thing, but I can see several young boys loving this and asking for it again and again at bedtime. plus, i really like the illustrations :)

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

A variation on the old 'you're still special even if you don't hit the standard metrics' plot, in which the standard metrics are AWFUL - parasites, warts, smelly smelly farts. This takes the sting out of that implied message of 'we still love you even if you don't measure up.' Lots of fun.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This silly story is about being yourself even if it's not what everyone else expects of you. It is lengthy, so would be best for older audiences, but the pictures and story are highly engaging and entertaining.

[Heydi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from the moment I cracked it open. The prose flow so wonderfully and the illustrations are a crack up. Nothing not to love here. A must read at story time in October and all year long!