There Are Monsters Everywhere

by Mercer Mayer

What kid doesn't suspect that there are monsters lurking under the bed, behind the shower curtain, in the basement, and even outside by the garbage cans? Mercer Mayer brilliantly and hilariously captures this classic childhood fear—and conquers it! Kids will cheer as the young hero of the story takes matters into his own hands by learning karate. Soon he has the monsters running scared!

There's a Nightmare in My Closet and its two terrific sequels are cherished favorites that have amused millions of readers, and continue selling year after year. Now Mercer Mayer has created a fresh new story and fabulous illustrations that will thrill and empower kids, a story that taps into a universal experience but with a super satisfying, karate twist!

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

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2005

About the author

Mercer Mayer is an American children's author and illustrator. He has published over 300 books, using a wide range of illustrative styles. Mayer is best known for his Little Critter and Little Monster series of books.

Reviews

[Kendra Thiry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mercer Mayer will always be one of my favorite picture book authors/illustrators. This book tells the story of a young boy who just knows there are monsters in his house, his bathroom, his closet, even outside by their garbage cans. The monsters conveniently hides when his parents are around so they don't believe him, but he just knows they're real. After seeing a flyer for karate lessons, the boy decides he will learn karate and scare off the monsters himself! This is a well-told story of conquering a common childhood fear, written for very young children and new readers. I used this book for an interactive read aloud with a preschooler last year for my Foundations of Literacy class, and he absolutely loved it and stayed engaged the entire time. He even found details in the pictures that I had missed (like a tiny monster in the back pocket of a bigger monster).

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today was my first day back in a classroom to read. I always try to start with either a favorite book or a favorite author. Mercer Mayer is a favorite author.

The kids received this pretty well. At the start a few were asking if it was scary, but it is not. There were some giggles, and they all enjoyed trying to spot the monsters hiding on every page.

Finishing the book ended up prompting a discussion about how sometimes things from our imagination can seem super real. We also talked about how some people and cultures believe strongly that the supernatural exists, and even if we don't share the belief that it should be respected and not made fun of. (Spend time in classrooms, and you'll be amazed at how kids think.)

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this fun little book. I always love books that tackle fears beyond a parent's ability to control. I love this one where the boy, though comforted and protected by his parents, more or less finds a solution on his own. He finds a way to make him feel strong and protected, and his parents support him in that. I love Mercer Meyer's illustrations -- they are SO cozy and nostalgic. I love how they feel real, but they feel like a perfect slice of my childhood or something. I don't know how he does it, but each page feels like a perfect snapshot. I just love this book.

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent storyline ,same great characters , Tempest , Amanda , Jane/James ,Big Ben not forgetting Bull and Dozer. Tempest is approached by LARP as there’s a Vampire Slayer ? Out to stake them ,meanwhile there’s something lurking in the sewer is it a monster ?New secretary Marjory is at the end of her tether too with the Bluemoon Office a tad overcrowded with the Undead, who want Tempest to keep them from being killed? Monsters on the high street … what’s a guy to do but get hunting

[Michelle Reynoso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good message, monsters could be stand-ins for bullies too which is a timeless theme. Loved most of the graphics, just the face of the boy sometimes looks like an older persons face on the body of a boy but that's just my opinion. Definitely a good book to read to kids because the message is a good one.

[Kaitlyn Konsmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an empowering book for kids about taking action and facing your fears. I like that his parents let him think on his own and take karate classes, and it sends a positive message to kids who may be struggling with the same fears. The colors match the story and mood, and the monster illustrations are imaginative.

Guided Reading: N/A (estimated G)
ATOS: 2.9
Six Traits: Voice, Presentation

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrifying memoir account of a young boy surrounded by monsters. The paranoia, the ceaseless fear are palpable. Rendered in gripping and horrifying detail, the lifelike photographs will keep you up at night. An ageless account, but accessible enough for an 8/9 year old to read with relative ease.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this as a child and it was nostalgic to read this as an adult. I'm not a fan of the illustrations, but I never really liked them to begin with. I just tolerated them. I was not a fan of the boy in the shower though. Unneeded butts.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kindergarteners enjoyed this quite a bit.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art is good. Story is decent but derivative of Mayer's own There's a Monster in My Closet.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this to my daughter before bedtime. Now I'm worried she's going to start thinking there's monsters under her bed. >_<

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads like a blatant commercial for karate classes. Saved by the illustrations of creative and cute monsters.

[Lee Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mercer Mayer! 5/5 stars.

[Christopher Johnston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fiction
Primary Grades (2-3)
The book was cute and made me smile sometimes, but I was told it was a classic and I am unsure that I can use a book for read aloud that shows a buttcrack in it.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

What child isn't a afraid at times of monsters or afraid of that unknown whatever that might hurt them. I love how this book deals with this dilemma

[L.A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m just really not into Mercer Mayer’s texts or illustrations 😂 The kid is facing his fear kinda, but he’s also destroying the house and not “helping” at all.

[Sasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm all about learning karate for self-defense, but I could do without a kiddo's booty in half the pages!

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercer Mayer is one of the best at creating monster stories for young children. This one is right up there with There's Something There!: Three Bedtime Classics and There's an Alligator under My Bed. The illustrations are delightful and the little boy who is the main character learns karate in order to keep himself safe from the monsters. I suspect lots of little boys would be asking to take karate lessons after reading this many times.

[10TX · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the pictures, I enjoy how the story reads, but this book did nothing to assuage my six year old daughter's fears. As a matter of fact, after the boy in the story proclaims at the end of the book that there are indeed monsters everywhere, but that he does not care, my daughter proclaimed, "He's very brave." I followed up with, "You can be brave, too," to which she replied, "I'm not!"

I tried to use the book as a launching point for discussion about how the monsters are in the boy's imagination, and that we all need to do what the boy did and find a way to be brave, but there the monsters are, in color, on every page (almost). After reading this book, she is only more certain that there really are monsters lurking in the dark.

It's a cute book. It is also not very comforting to the child already dealing with an overactive imagination and who is not attending karate classes.

[Jamala Alkeshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing that I want to say in regards to this book is that I can relate to this little boy, and other children reading it can probably relate even more. So this made it really fun for me to read as I could put myself in the characters shoes. I really enjoyed all the illustrations, especially of the monsters, they were very well done. At the end of the book the monsters even look scared in a very animated way which is great for kids reading it as it may get rid of some of these monster fears children have. The rationalization of when the monsters are around is very interesting for example they are not around when his mom is. This can create some great dialogue in a classroom as we can critically think about why exactly the monsters are there sometimes and not others.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

My adult special needs son and I really enjoyed the text and illustrations on this book as I read it out loud to him. A little boy's imagination is running wild telling him there are monsters EVERYWHERE although his parents can't see them. They are outside when he takes the garbage out (his Dad has to watch him in case the monsters get him) They are in his bathroom, so he always has to keep on eye on the bathroom as he takes his shower. After a while he decides that he wants to do something so he joins a karate class and learns karate! He not only learns the kicks and moves but he learns self esteem and he starts running those monsters away! Great book for children who are scared of monsters. Or just great book to just giggle and smile at.

[Monster]

A young boy feels menaced by monsters that seem to be everywhere, in his room, by the garbage, and hiding in the bathroom. Our unnamed hero decides he can't take it anymore and gets his parents to take him to karate class, where he develops self confidence. When he returns home, he scares the monsters away with some well placed karate moves to garbage cans and shower curtains. While some could interpret the story as suggesting that violence is an appropriate way to deal with fear, Mayer provides a good and positive message about facing one's fears and being self sufficient. The illustrations complement the story well.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is a little biased because I absolutely love Mercer Mayer books, especially his monster ones, and this one is jam-packed with monster illustrations. In this book, a young boy is certain there are monsters everywhere in and around his house, so he decides to take a karate class to scare them away. It works and he feels more safe in his house, plus he picks up a new hobby. I think the illustrations are great, especially the green and yellow monster behind his bedroom door. This books makes me want to read its predecessor, "There's a Nightmare in My Closet." Recommended for ages 5+, 4 stars.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young boy sees monsters everywhere but his parents never see them. Isn't that always the way?
My first grade boys in clinic LOVED this book. It was one of the first books we read and they told me weeks later that it was their favorite book of the summer. It was a bit of a challenging read for them so I read it to them while they followed along in their own copies. The book is entertaining and the pictures are great. Highly recommended for young reluctant readers. Will definitely buy and teach again should the opportunity arise.

[Elisha Condie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the other book I've been reading 10 times a day for what seems like years. My kids LOOOOOVE this book. A little boy is scared of the monsters that are all around his house until he takes karate class and learns to scare 'em off. My 23 month old often wants to sit in her crib with this book and look at it by herself (yes!). This is a great book.

I fear I've opened the floodgates with recommending childrens books. I'm only going to do the ones we really love. A lot.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a kid who is afraid of monsters until he takes karate, and I guess it is kind of cute. Not one of my favorites, but the pictures are fun. There is a little baby bum crack in the pictures while the little boy fights monsters in the shower, and so everytime we read this book my kids tell me all about how no one wants to see other people naked and how he should cover up or not draw pictures while he is in the shower. But if you don't mind baby bum, you might enjoy it.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mercer Mayer, and I love this book more than all of the Little Critter books, combined. Kid sees monsters everywhere. Parent's don't believe him. He signs up for karate classes and learns how to be confident and scare away the monsters. Also, finally takes out the trash by himself. :-) I enjoyed it immensely.

[Phil Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Mercer Meyer never seems to let me down. Not only are the illustrations great, some are quite humorous. The story is a good story to teach kids to fight their fears. However, there are some pictures that may seem questionable. I would use your own discretion prior to using this at school. One of my students loved this book. It is for all ages.

[Amy Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book for preschoolers! I love that the main character learns to overcome his fear of monsters by learning karate...once he feels fierce and empowered, the monsters miraculously disappear! Zoey loves this book and we have read it over and over and over the past few weeks. Maybe she'll want to learn karate??

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy is convinced that there are monsters in his house even though they seem to hide when his parents are home. But he knows they are there, especially when he's in the shower shampooing his hair. He finally gets his parents to agree to send him to karate classes. They agreed. The boy becomes so adept at karate that the monsters don't dare come near him.