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Monster Trucks

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All monsters love the autumn air,
just right to sneak and spook and scare.
But other seasons of the year,
they shift into a different gear.

Monsters get to work―paving roads, plowing snow, hauling muck―with their monster trucks in this fun, rhyming picture book. With a gentle bedtime ending, this not-too-scary story is perfect for young monster and truck lovers.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 29, 2017

3 people are currently reading
86 people want to read

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Joy Keller

7 books14 followers

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5 stars
97 (28%)
4 stars
127 (37%)
3 stars
105 (30%)
2 stars
10 (2%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for Barbara.
15k reviews315 followers
November 14, 2017
The text and Adobe Photoshop illustrations give a whole new meaning to the phrase "monster trucks." After all, monsters have to do something during their off season, and in this picture book, they drive big trucks and vehicles that seem to fit them perfectly. Readers who like trucks will enjoy seeing various supernatural and scary creatures, including a werewolf, a skeleton, a yeti, a witch, and even a swamp monster, hard at work. While some readers might be anxious after reading this monster-filled book, the author takes care to reassure them that there is no need for fear. All that hard work during the day has put the monsters in bed for much-needed rest. Some of the rhyming lines are a bit strained, but I doubt that will detract from most readers' enjoyment of the story.
Profile Image for Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book*.
6,033 reviews219 followers
December 27, 2017
Keller, Joy Monster Trucks, illustrated by Misa Saburi. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt and Company (Macmillan), 2017. $16.99.

When it is not Halloween time, what do monsters do with themselves? They drive monster trucks (ha! punny!) and this book tells about the varieties of trucks each monster specializes in. Mummies work in an ambulance, the angry ogre uses a wrecking ball, and the yeti drives a snowplow. And readers do not need to worry about monsters under their beds at night--monsters are in their own beds sleeping after working hard all day!

I really enjoyed the premise of this story and the rhyming text makes it a fun book to read aloud. The illustrations have a unique look to them, but I feel like they fit a monster book really well. This is a great book for kids who love Halloween, monsters, trucks, or just a fun picture book any day.

Pre-K, EL (K-3)--ADVISABLE. Reviewer: TC
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
Profile Image for Cynthia June Long.
172 reviews4 followers
October 11, 2017
Brilliant concept! (Why didn't I think of this?) After Halloween, for the rest of the year, monsters drive trucks and utility vehicles. The werewolf drives a back hoe to dig deep holes for bones and squeaky toys; the yeti drives a snow plow; the minotaur cleverly drives a BULL-dozer. The witch appropriately trades her broom in for a street-sweeper. And the mummy drives (can you guess?) the ambulance, of course! Kudos for also including an ogre and minotaur among the diverse monsters. Humorous illustrations by Misa Saburi. This is a gem of a book. I only wish there had been some literal oversized big-wheel monster trucks. A year-round book; not only for October.
Profile Image for The Library Lady.
3,877 reviews680 followers
October 19, 2017
The perfect combination of 2 kid faves--trucks and monsters--loses a star because if you're going to make it rhyme, make it RHYME! Several of the scansions are awkward, and sorry, Joy KellerJoy Keller, but "debris" and "brilliantly" don't rhyme in the slightest. And while that probably won't keep your average 2-3 year old from loving this, but it may make any adult who isn't tone deaf wince during repeated readings.
Profile Image for Erin.
4,593 reviews56 followers
December 12, 2017
The kids loved this, and I enjoyed this, but much like Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, there's an odd masculine default for most of these monsters. Six monsters are "he," two are "she," and one "they." And why is it this way? Making the pronouns more even throughout the book would not have necessitated changing either the illustrations or the rhyme scheme. It's maddening.

The illustrations and concept for this book are great. Would be lovely for a construction or monster storytime.

Profile Image for Cheryl Keely.
44 reviews1 follower
September 14, 2017
What a fun cross between spooky and calming this book is. Monsters of all sorts work hard all day driving trucks and doing hard work. So much hard work that when night comes they are too tired to scary anyone tucked safely in bed. Reassures children no monsters are lurking under beds or in closets when the lights go out while also giving them a way to see others differently and in a not so scary fashion. Whimsical illustrations also capture that cross between spooky and calming. Although a bit of a Halloween vibe, this is a great read for any night of the year.
Profile Image for Jessica Petersen.
Author 12 books8 followers
September 30, 2017
I love the choice of monsters to include, and the jobs they end up doing in their own monster-y ways are hilarious. The rhyming verse is super fun to read, and there are some great details in the illustrations. (I think my favorite is the happy vampire hanging upside down from a cherry picker, holding out a book and a bouquet of roses to a surprised statute, but on the other hand I also want the witch's vehicle for all my future bathing of cats.) This would be a great Halloween book, but kids who like transportation, monsters, and/or funny books (also known as "kids") would enjoy it any time.
Profile Image for Chana Stiefel.
Author 38 books59 followers
October 9, 2017
Just in time for Halloween...MONSTER TRUCKS features kids' favorite trucks driven by the most ghoulish monsters. Readers will vroom across the pages with plenty of bone-chilling illustrations. Keller's jaunty rhyme ("You want a road that's smooth and new? The skeletons are just the crew. They pave and roll and put up cones, without a sweat--they're only bones") meshes perfectly with Misa Saburi's action-packed & spooky art. Never fear! Your own little monsters will slowly wind down. MONSTER TRUCKS also works as a surprisingly soothing bedtime story.
Profile Image for Lorie.
771 reviews11 followers
April 12, 2018
What do Monsters do when it’s not Halloween? They drive monster trucks and construction vehicles of course! Told in rhyming verse, this twist on construction picture books will appeal to young children. An added reassurance at the end that you won’t find monsters in your room as their work leaves them too tired to scare anyone makes for a soft ending bed time story. I would recommend this book for purchase by school or public libraries.

This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
Profile Image for Erin.
265 reviews5 followers
October 31, 2017
This is not just another monster truck book! These are monsters driving construction vehicles of all kinds. The vampires like their cherry pickers and the werewolves drive diggers. I liked this unique perspective on monster trucks. Plus, the author tossed in the ever elusive minotaur and spiced things up with an ogre. My son wants to read this all of the time and I don't complain when he does. Win and a win!
Profile Image for Alison Goldberg.
Author 7 books15 followers
July 4, 2017
This fun story is filled with truck-driving monsters! The text and illustrations strike a perfect balance between spooky and soothing, reassuring readers that monsters are far too busy and tired to bother them. My seven year old enjoyed the humor, immediately recognizing why, for example, a mummy works in an ambulance, and noticing details on each page.
Profile Image for Gaia Cornwall.
Author 9 books78 followers
August 21, 2017
A wonderful ghostly gathering of your favorite vehicles and creepy spooks! Happily perfect for my three year old who is both thrilled by construction trucks, and Halloween. A fun read for lots of ages-- older kids will love the visual puns by illustrator Misa Saburi, and its not so spooky that its terrifying for the younger crowd. Really fun read!
Profile Image for Ariel.
Author 16 books44 followers
September 4, 2017
Any fear of monsters will dissolve as readers delight in watching the various monsters (mummies, minotaurs, witches, etc.) use different trucks around town to plow the snow, drive an ambulance, and more. Joy Keller's rhyming text is very fun to read aloud and I love the details Misa Saburi adds to her playful illustrations.
3,188 reviews18 followers
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September 7, 2017
MONSTER trucks, get it? Because the characters are monsters? In this book there aren't actual monster trucks, just monsters in different farm/road vehicles like dozers, rollers, plows, etc. So definitely the audience is people who like monsters/scarier books.

The rhyming is very good, though.

There is also a subtle-ish reference to Halloween on the first spread.
Profile Image for Emma Otheguy.
Author 15 books54 followers
September 8, 2017
This is a perfect Halloween read-aloud for toddlers who love trucks--and monsters! The book follows a perfect rhythm and includes occasional jokes and lots of rich references to monsters and trucks for the construction-obsessed kid. The illustrations are engaging and the story will hold up to many reads!
Profile Image for Janet.
3,691 reviews37 followers
October 14, 2017
What do monsters do when it is not autumn and they are out scaring you? They drive their monster trucks doing work. For example the witch trades in her broom to drive the street sweeper. This is a great story with wonderful illustrations and a super reassurance for all those children who fer monsters under their bed. Loved this one and hope to see future titles from Joy Keller.
Profile Image for Serenity.
1,128 reviews11 followers
December 30, 2017
*I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher through my district library services*

The illustrations and rhymes in this book are cute and will appeal to youngsters who are looking for monsters and/or trucks. The vocabulary may be a bit too advanced ("shift into a different gear" "exposed" "pummel") and may interrupt the flow of using it as a readaloud.

Profile Image for Jenna Grodzicki.
Author 42 books34 followers
January 29, 2018
This clever rhyming books lets children know what monsters do to keep busy after Halloween. Young readers will love hearing about the jobs each monster has. The illustrations are adorable and not scary in the least. This is a story children will want to hear again and again. I highly recommend this to parents and teachers everywhere!
Profile Image for Melanie Hetrick.
4,646 reviews51 followers
July 26, 2019
This story explains what monsters do the other 364 days of the year besides Halloween: they drive monster trucks! Tucks that dig holes and clean roads; trucks that remove snow and dig up boulders. But even monster trucks need to sleep at night.

A good one for reassuring little ones that there are no monsters under the bed b/c they are sleeping too.
Profile Image for Gina Perry.
Author 18 books23 followers
August 14, 2017
I just adore this rhyming mash-up of Halloween and vehicles. Little ones will love reading this over and over to spy the oodles of details packed into this fun read-aloud. Parents will enjoy the funny and lively story that strikes just the right balance of spooky-sweet.
Profile Image for Samantha.
4,985 reviews60 followers
September 6, 2017
Popular monsters (vampires, werewolves, skeletons, yetis etc) are matched up with construction equipment/jobs that perfectly matches their temperament. Rhyming text and digital artwork makes for a fun seasonal read for PreK-2.
Profile Image for Mary.
1,672 reviews
September 21, 2017
Cute rhyming story about vehicles, mostly construction. I would have given this 4 stars but most of the vehicles, while describing what they do, remain unnamed. I wish they could have added in the names of the vehicles. Still a good read-aloud for 4-6 y/o.
Profile Image for Kerri Kokias.
Author 6 books43 followers
October 18, 2017
A hilarious rhyming picture book combining monsters and vehicles. Fans of any of these things will be eager to read this book again and again. I wish this was out when my son was younger, I could totally hear his past toddler voice giggling as I read through it.
Profile Image for Jason June.
Author 16 books773 followers
November 28, 2017
This was such a joy to read! I couldn't wait to turn the page to see what new, clever task Keller assigned each monster on the off seasons after fall. I was smiling the whole way through this book! It's almost spooky how good it is!
92 reviews1 follower
December 11, 2020
I got this from the library just based on the title since my son loves all vehicles including monster trucks. It ended up being Halloween themed with each monster driving a different truck. My son also loves Halloween and anything spooky so this one was great mash up.
Profile Image for Viviane Elbee.
Author 4 books60 followers
October 14, 2021
Brilliant book combining monsters and trucks for a book that’s bound to please young truck lovers and young monster lovers. This would also make a great Halloween read. It’s also a bedtime appropriate book. For toddlers and preschoolers and elementary kids.
Profile Image for Jannie Ho.
Author 177 books29 followers
July 10, 2017
A spooky good read! The cute pairing of Halloween and various trucks driven by cute and sweet monsters will make this a winner for all truck lovers out there, even when trick or treating is over.

Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews

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