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Monster ABC
Featuring tongue-in-cheek humor for adults and unhinged delight for kids, this alphabet book is full of silly monster fun from Alien to Zombie. Whimsical illustrations combined with winky verses add levity throughout, making this the perfect book to make you the coolest mom, dad, aunt or uncle ever. Monster ABC covers the full monster spectrum: Some are well-known (e.g., Alien, Ghost, Zombie), some are regional favorites (e.g., Jersey Devil, Sasquatch) and some come with a passport (e.g., Banshee, Krampus, Quetzalcoatl). These gorgeously quirky monsters and silly verses will prove there's nothing to fear.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
30 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 11, 2018
73 people want to read
About the author
Kyle Sullivan
23 books32 followersKyle Sullivan's board books, picture books and middle-grade chapter books have sold more than 150,000 copies worldwide. Featuring monsters and themes from world myths and folklore, Kyle's books promote empathy, inclusivity and imagination, while appealing to parents, guardians, and teachers as much as they appeal to young readers.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 27, 2018
I firmly believe that children should learn their ABCs from books depicting impending death and/or monsters of the world. I realize that not everyone will agree with me on that, which is why you don’t see Edward Gorey’s hilariously morbid The Gashlycrumb Tinies in every preschool in the country. But Monster ABC is so cute, funny, and cheerful that I think my dream of monster-based reading programs may yet come to fruition.
Using rhyming couplets to depict an impressively diverse array of monsters — there was one even I had to look up — twin brothers Kyle and Derek Sullivan show kids that there’s nothing to fear from these famous beasties. Kyle Sullivan’s verse will have young ones giggling; “H is for Hobgoblin who smells like a fart” will surely be a fan favorite. I was particularly excited to see the chupacabra represented.
Derek Sullivan’s illustrations are perfect for the age range, with cartoony smiles and huge eyes, and a color palette that expertly walks the line between too dark and creepy for young readers and too bright and happy for the subject matter. His details are incredible: they manage to convey identifying regional details for monsters specific to a particular locale while also adding fantastic visual jokes without ever becoming too overwhelming for young readers.
Previously only published in the Pacific Northwest, I’m thrilled that Monster ABC is being released nationwide. It’s a fun, hilarious book that will teach kids how to read using unique vocabulary — seriously, how many board books do you know of that mention Krampus and Quetzalcoatl? — and teach them that monsters can be silly instead of scary. Kyle Sullivan’s verse and Derek Sullivan’s art make for a delightful book that is sure to be a favorite for children and adults alike.
My thanks to Hazy Dell Press and Edelweiss+ for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Using rhyming couplets to depict an impressively diverse array of monsters — there was one even I had to look up — twin brothers Kyle and Derek Sullivan show kids that there’s nothing to fear from these famous beasties. Kyle Sullivan’s verse will have young ones giggling; “H is for Hobgoblin who smells like a fart” will surely be a fan favorite. I was particularly excited to see the chupacabra represented.
Derek Sullivan’s illustrations are perfect for the age range, with cartoony smiles and huge eyes, and a color palette that expertly walks the line between too dark and creepy for young readers and too bright and happy for the subject matter. His details are incredible: they manage to convey identifying regional details for monsters specific to a particular locale while also adding fantastic visual jokes without ever becoming too overwhelming for young readers.
Previously only published in the Pacific Northwest, I’m thrilled that Monster ABC is being released nationwide. It’s a fun, hilarious book that will teach kids how to read using unique vocabulary — seriously, how many board books do you know of that mention Krampus and Quetzalcoatl? — and teach them that monsters can be silly instead of scary. Kyle Sullivan’s verse and Derek Sullivan’s art make for a delightful book that is sure to be a favorite for children and adults alike.
My thanks to Hazy Dell Press and Edelweiss+ for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2018
Clever and cute. I really like that it takes monsters and turns them into something that kids don’t have to be scared of. Plus, J is for Jersey Devil, and I’m guessing not a lot of alphabet books have that. 😂
October 5, 2020
This ABC book is such a great way to get into the Halloween spirit! One of my daughter’s favorite new words from this book is the hardest one of course – Quetzalcoatl. The illustrations and rhyming text are sure to get your little ghosts & ghouls excited about mythical creatures – especially when they may see someone dressed up as a creature from the book. Younger kids might not fully understand the context of the rhyming phrases but 4-6 definitely would. Thank you to Amazon Vine & Hazy Dell Press for the opportunity to share this funny little monster book with my daughter – all opinions are my own.
March 28, 2023
This is a very cute book for the littlest books & ghouls & has a nice array of monsters listed. All presented in adorable & friendly fashion, and the art is rather fun, too.
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October 13, 2020Monster ABC is the first book of the Monster series from Hazy Dell Press. My goodness, how I love these books; they are cute, clever and very sturdy. The first one I saw was Hush Now, Banshee! at my local library and we had to get the box set once we returned it.
This is an ABC board book where each letter is for a different monster. The rhymes cover two different letters at a time on opposite pages, making the book flow well. I think some of the drawings could be a little scary for some kids but mine are ok with them; the illustration style of the Monster series changes in the following book making them much cuter, or at least Banshee is. Hobgoblin can't stop being this cute. Did you know he also smells like a fart?
By the way, the Hazy Dell website has an Education & Activities page with free stuff to do, from ages 1 to 12. The Monster ABC coloring sheets are fantastic! I'm looking forward to reading their middle grade Zombie, Or Not To Be one day soon.
It's hard to be scared when you're laughing like mad!
This is an ABC board book where each letter is for a different monster. The rhymes cover two different letters at a time on opposite pages, making the book flow well. I think some of the drawings could be a little scary for some kids but mine are ok with them; the illustration style of the Monster series changes in the following book making them much cuter, or at least Banshee is. Hobgoblin can't stop being this cute. Did you know he also smells like a fart?
By the way, the Hazy Dell website has an Education & Activities page with free stuff to do, from ages 1 to 12. The Monster ABC coloring sheets are fantastic! I'm looking forward to reading their middle grade Zombie, Or Not To Be one day soon.
It's hard to be scared when you're laughing like mad!
August 12, 2020
The art in this sturdy board book is absolutely fun and engaging for any kid who likes the weird and potentially creepy. No blood or gore is included, but these are definitely not creatures that most toddlers would want to cuddle up with. Those who love to collect different types of ABC books for their 1-5 year olds will like the creativity in this one. The loss of two stars in my rating stems from some word choices that might be difficult for the target age group to understand, i.e. confusing multi meaning words/phrases like "who lives in the sticks" as well as a few iffy references like one monster smelling like a fart and to a Sasquatch that lives in the nude. Call me old-fashioned, but I'd prefer my 2 year old grandson wait until fellow kindergartners start teaching him some of those things.
December 13, 2020
A super fun rhyming monster ABC book.
The illustrations strike a nice balance of spooky and cute.
I thought it was great that they put in Quetzalcoatl and Xing Tian (something new-to-me to read about!) for Q and X instead of trying to mash some western thing together. And we even got "Frankenstein's monster" right instead of just saying Frankenstein! Hazy Dell knows their monsters. I was hoping for mothman on M, but mummy is a classic.
My favorite extra-funny bits:
"H is for hobgoblin who smells like a fart"
"T is for troll with comments so rude" haha, troll comments
"V is for vampire the original bat man"
"Z is for zombie with your brain on his mind"
The illustrations strike a nice balance of spooky and cute.
I thought it was great that they put in Quetzalcoatl and Xing Tian (something new-to-me to read about!) for Q and X instead of trying to mash some western thing together. And we even got "Frankenstein's monster" right instead of just saying Frankenstein! Hazy Dell knows their monsters. I was hoping for mothman on M, but mummy is a classic.
My favorite extra-funny bits:
"H is for hobgoblin who smells like a fart"
"T is for troll with comments so rude" haha, troll comments
"V is for vampire the original bat man"
"Z is for zombie with your brain on his mind"
April 5, 2019
Monster ABC by Derek and Kyle Sullivan. BOARD BOOK. Hazy Dell Press, 2015. $14. 9780996578707
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre- K - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Meet an abecedarian of monsters - little rhyming couplets and the cutest ugly pictures accompany each letter.
For those with the right sense of humor this is a must have board book. The illustrations hit just the right note and the couplets, for the most part, are easy rhyming for reading aloud.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre- K - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Meet an abecedarian of monsters - little rhyming couplets and the cutest ugly pictures accompany each letter.
For those with the right sense of humor this is a must have board book. The illustrations hit just the right note and the couplets, for the most part, are easy rhyming for reading aloud.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
May 26, 2022
Honestly, I'm pretty sure I love this little board book more than either of my sons. The art is super fun and the wordplay and rhymes are leaps and bounds above most children's books. Taking supernatural monsters and myths and making them silly and fun feels like the right way to introduce them to young children. This one is, by far, the best of the four books I've read to my sons by Kyle Sullivan and I would recommend any of them to parents for their wee monsters.
June 19, 2018
I loved this book so much! I'm a sucker for ABC books, so this is my absolute favorite of all the Hazy Dell Press digital ARCs I've read. I appreciate how it makes the scary monsters seem not-so-threatening and that it's amusing on both an adult and kid level. Highly recommended!
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss+.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss+.
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January 2, 2021What a wonderfully new way of thinking of ABC words! I think this a cute, slightly spooky way to learn your ABC's and learn some fun new words! The illustrations were adorable, which I think about all the Hazy Dell Press books we own.
"V is for Vampire the original bat man." made me laugh out loud!!
"V is for Vampire the original bat man." made me laugh out loud!!
February 15, 2021
A multicultural monster compendium with spoopy, colorful illustrations. The rhymes that describe each monster are fun and not pandering. We like reading the book almost as much as the kidlet likes tracing the cool drawings. Fun tie-in between this one and The Cyclops Witch & The Heebie Jeebies where CW has Xing Tian's skull in a jar!
September 13, 2020
Such a fun compilation of monsters to learn the alphabet. I like that they also make it rhyme, which makes it more fun to read. I also appreciate that the monsters aren’t all traditional European and American monsters. I learned some that were new to me too.
April 17, 2018
So cute! Definitely for little monster hunters and their parents will enjoy it too! However, if you are not into folklore and legends (specifically monsters)... probably not for you.
December 18, 2018
Even has Quetzalcoatl and Xing Tian. That's thorough.
January 28, 2019
The illustrations were spectacular!!!
June 4, 2019
Love all these books - I had this one memorized pretty quickly because my son loved it so much.
July 4, 2020
Fun, unique ABC book
August 15, 2020
It's a fantastic book - full of monsters for every letter of the alphabet!
August 28, 2020
A ghoulishly good ABC book for your wee little monster.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2021
Such a fun ABC book! Loved by my granddaughters. Also makes a great addition to any baby shower gift.
January 27, 2022
This one was a little scary lol. And should we really call deities monsters? Fun, though!
August 22, 2022
All I have to say is "H is for Hobgoblin who smells like a fart." LOL
November 15, 2022
This was really cute actually. My 7-month-old even enjoyed looking at all the colorful, ghouly pictures!
April 19, 2023
Borrowed from the library, and need to buy a copy for my family. Such a fun ABC book.
April 22, 2023
Such a fun and interesting ABC book with nice illustrations.
September 13, 2023
everything about this is just the cutest. Perfect for all the lil monster loving ghouls
December 17, 2021
This is a very simple book that uses different monsters to represent each letter of the alphabet.
Now that my daughter is learning the alphabet, she actually enjoyed this book. She liked it much more than when we read it this Spring. It’s amazing what a few months will do. My 1-year old was still very bored with it.
This book would be good for kids that are learning the alphabet, especially if they’re interested in monsters.
Now that my daughter is learning the alphabet, she actually enjoyed this book. She liked it much more than when we read it this Spring. It’s amazing what a few months will do. My 1-year old was still very bored with it.
This book would be good for kids that are learning the alphabet, especially if they’re interested in monsters.
June 28, 2018
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews