Birthday Monsters!

by Sandra Boynton

An unforgettable birthday celebration from Sandra Boynton!
You hear your door come crashing down—those birthday monsters are in town! And they're going to wreak havoc in the most extraordinarily rude ways. What fun! From Boynton on Board, the more-than-20-million-copy-bestselling series of extra-big, extra-fat, and extra-fun board books, here is BIRTHDAY MONSTERS. Featuring Sandra Boynton's lively rhyming text and inimitable illustrations, this story about a madcap crew of lovable party crashers will appeal to kids and adults alike.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, Humor, Monsters, Kids, Poetry

24 pages, Board Book

First published January 12, 1993

About the author

Sandra Keith Boynton is an American humorist, songwriter, director, music producer, children's author, and illustrator. Boynton has written and illustrated over eighty-five books for children and seven general audience books, as well as over four thousand greeting cards, and seven music albums. She has also designed calendars, wallpaper, bedding, stationery, paper goods, clothing, jewelry, and plush toys for various companies.

Reviews

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

floating this in 2022 because kind people still exist and that's worth celebrating:

thank you to everyone who made my birthday fun this year. makes me rethink my misanthropy.

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Birthday Monsters throw a chaotic and disastrous party for a dazed hippopotamus. Thank goodness for the twist ending setting things aright.

This particular book was a present for my daughter's very first birthday and has been revisited regularly over the last two decades.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chaos caused by the monsters (more sensitive kids might get upset, I suppose, but my nieces don't) is done in a funny way, and the fact that the BIRTHDAY MONSTER CLEANING CREW! fixes everything at the end makes it all better.

Very catchy text, really funny illustrations. Perfect for a kid's first or second birthday.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great birthday present for my one-year-old grandson--with Boynton's trademark fun and charming silliness.

[Kady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adam likened the new Queer Eye guys to the Birthday Monsters and the comparison is not totally off.

[Cissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite being a board book, it's got a plot! The monsters are a lot of fun, and my 1-year-old grandson just loves the book! (We did a bit of a monster theme for him...)

I love Boynton and have for decades now, and this is a really fun addition to her board books for the little ones!

[Paul Holbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need another copy of this book.

I'm not a morning person, so my favorite lines are:

Look, oh look - it's 6:08!

Your present opening cannot wait

They rush you down before you're ready,

and use your breakfast as confetti.

[SaraLaLa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another cute installment of rhyme and silliness themed around birthdays.

[Aneesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notes of Wendy Cope, undertones of Dorothy Parker.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boynton is such a joy to read aloud!

[Alicia Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for my baby storytime this week. While I do love Boyton and her monsters, I found the book a little long for my audience. Most of her books are easily accessible for many ages, so I was a little disappointed to find that this didn't allow for the youngest readers. I suppose if you have a little one who is extremely willing to sit still, then this wouldn't be an issue, but I doubt that it is common. Still a fun book, but not recommended for the youngest readers.

For: lovers of Boynton or birthdays or monsters.

Possible red flags: some readers may find this too long or may view this as promoting bad behavior.

[Caitlen Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book's art style is bright and captivating. The rhyming and repetition of words keeps the thirteen month old constantly waddling over to the shelf to pick this one specifically. The physical book is small enough for infant hands to grab and the pages are thick and stiff enough for baby to turn on their own. Each page keeps the same rhyme scheme and meter. The story happens and then happens again in reverse. The Birthday monsters come and ruin the birthday then leave. They return and fix the birthday a la Cat in the Hat better than how they left it. The cake is larger, and the kid has more presents than before. The steady rhythm makes it easy to reread.

[raccoon reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won't lie. My two year old was pretty upset by this book almost every time we read it. The injustice of the birthday monsters doing all that they did was just too much for his little brain and heart to handle. We had to make sure to really emphasize that it all turns out alright in the end. But definitely our least favorite book so far from Boynton. Maybe later down the road he'll like it more..... but probably not lol.

[Andrés · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess this is a safe venue in which to feel the emotions one feels when bullied? But on one's birthday! Feels particularly unfair. I'm glad things are made right for the birthday hippo. I think the rhymes in this book flow better than most Boynton books, and there's something to gain from the sense of absurdity and incredulity.

[Kate M. Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack borrowed this book from the Oxford Public Library as part of our quest to read all the Sandra Boynton books.

He seemed interested in his books after nap and pulled this one out to read himself. When he was done, I picked it up and got him interested by doing silly voices and inflections. He liked the monsters and their crazy antics, and the cake, of course.

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hippopotamus is very surprised when Birthday Monsters come crashing through the door at 6:08 in the morning. The Birthday Monsters take the presents, eat the cake, and make a mess...leaving hippopotamus feeling down. But the Birthday Monster Cleaning Crew makes everything better!

[Amanda Jordan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly and cute! :-)

[Alex Barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the few baby books that amuses me every time I read it. More importantly, my babies seem to like it.

[Sharon Adegroye Sulemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be a great book for parents to read to their kids because it can help them to read.

[Taj Edgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve probably read this book a couple hundred times and I love it every time.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely won't mind reading this again or ten more times if she asks. The rhyming is fun and the pictures are cute.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book

[Rich Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boynton is a master at silly rhymes and pictures and this birthday book is no exception. This is definitely a good book to keep in mind for a child’s birthday week.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stella liked it OK, but I don't love how rude the montsters were (although there are nice ones at the end)

[Megan Gery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Sandra Boynton. This book is a good example of why I love her, and the ending is so sweet.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The birthday monsters pay Hippo a visit.

[Bonnie Arriola · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

@simonkids sent me another box of joy and I was happy to find a copy of this one -- the Boynton books were our favorites when out kids were babies, and now are my favorites to give to new parents

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Board book format. No child wants the birthday monsters to show up at their birthday party. They take over and leave with all the goodies, but ... there is a surprise at the end.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny rhyming story about a crew of monsters who cause havoc while helping a hippo celebrate his birthday. I found this one to be more engaging than many of the Boynton board books.