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The Monster in the Backpack
Having trouble with your backpack zipper? Maybe there's a monster inside! Annie warms up to the exasperating but lovable creature she finds in her backpack in this humorous story complemented by energetic illustrations.
When Annie unzips her new flowered backpack and finds a monster inside, it’s hard to say who is more shocked. "AAAAHHHH!" yells the monster. "EEEEEEKKKK!" yells Annie. It’s a predicament, to be sure, as the monster proceeds to gobble Annie's sandwich, stick gum in her boot, and tear up her homework to use as confetti for an "Annie-is-great" parade in the middle of class. With a perfectly tuned sense of comic timing, Lisa Moser captures a young girl’s transition from annoyance to affection as a funky and disarmingly open-hearted monster makes an untimely appearance. Noah Jones's colorful and expressive illustrations bring these two charming characters brilliantly to life.
When Annie unzips her new flowered backpack and finds a monster inside, it’s hard to say who is more shocked. "AAAAHHHH!" yells the monster. "EEEEEEKKKK!" yells Annie. It’s a predicament, to be sure, as the monster proceeds to gobble Annie's sandwich, stick gum in her boot, and tear up her homework to use as confetti for an "Annie-is-great" parade in the middle of class. With a perfectly tuned sense of comic timing, Lisa Moser captures a young girl’s transition from annoyance to affection as a funky and disarmingly open-hearted monster makes an untimely appearance. Noah Jones's colorful and expressive illustrations bring these two charming characters brilliantly to life.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published July 25, 2006
1 person is currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Moser
19 books4 followersLisa Moser grew up in the small town of Fairfield, Iowa. "I had a wonderful childhood," says Lisa. "I lived in a neighborhood where lemonade stands were a day's event, the boundaries for hide-and-go-seek were the entire block, and you knew it was time to come home when the streetlights came on."
About this time, Lisa was inspired by her grandma to become a writer. "My grandma and grandpa lived in Florida, and we would write letters every week. But on some golden days, some treasure days, I would go to the mailbox and find a story from my grandma. She'd write the stories, draw the pictures, and bind them up with bright yarn. Reading those stories, my own dream of becoming a children's author began."
Lisa went on to attend The University of Iowa and graduated with a degree in elementary education. After getting married, she moved to Worthington, Ohio where she happily taught reading, writing, and other subjects to fifth graders. Lisa is proud to say that she was never beaten in a footrace by any of her students, although she only raced them once. Wisely, she retired a champion.
When Lisa and her husband moved to Wisconsin and had their daughter, Lydia, Lisa became a stay-at-home mom and pursued her childhood dream of writing.
About this time, Lisa was inspired by her grandma to become a writer. "My grandma and grandpa lived in Florida, and we would write letters every week. But on some golden days, some treasure days, I would go to the mailbox and find a story from my grandma. She'd write the stories, draw the pictures, and bind them up with bright yarn. Reading those stories, my own dream of becoming a children's author began."
Lisa went on to attend The University of Iowa and graduated with a degree in elementary education. After getting married, she moved to Worthington, Ohio where she happily taught reading, writing, and other subjects to fifth graders. Lisa is proud to say that she was never beaten in a footrace by any of her students, although she only raced them once. Wisely, she retired a champion.
When Lisa and her husband moved to Wisconsin and had their daughter, Lydia, Lisa became a stay-at-home mom and pursued her childhood dream of writing.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 21, 2015
Rae said the monster in the backpack behaved very badly.
November 27, 2019
What a cute book, it's sweet and endearing.
January 10, 2019
Cute little book aimed for 2nd graders and younger
November 10, 2008
As far as beginning readers go, this is far superior to most.
February 10, 2017
6-year-old daughter: 5 stars
4-year-old daughter: 1 star ("I didn't like the monster. He was too scary.)
4-year-old daughter: 1 star ("I didn't like the monster. He was too scary.)
July 26, 2018
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A pretty good book overall. I liked all of the silliness and mayhem that starts off the book. The monster is an adorable little troublemaker. It reminds me of Cornelia Funke's Ruffleclaw.
The only thing I didn't like about the book was the ending. The monster is kind of a jerk throughout the book, but at the end Annie decides to keep him because he threw her a parade (which made a mess that she had to clean up). I get where the book was trying to go, but it also kind of suggests that you should stay friends with someone who treats you badly if they occasionally do something nice for you. The monster puts gum in her boot, eats her lunch, and rips up her homework, but that parade was enough for to cement their friendship? Obviously, this was not the intention of the book, but I think it sends the wrong message.
Overall, a cute silly book about a girl and her monster.
A pretty good book overall. I liked all of the silliness and mayhem that starts off the book. The monster is an adorable little troublemaker. It reminds me of Cornelia Funke's Ruffleclaw.
The only thing I didn't like about the book was the ending. The monster is kind of a jerk throughout the book, but at the end Annie decides to keep him because he threw her a parade (which made a mess that she had to clean up). I get where the book was trying to go, but it also kind of suggests that you should stay friends with someone who treats you badly if they occasionally do something nice for you. The monster puts gum in her boot, eats her lunch, and rips up her homework, but that parade was enough for to cement their friendship? Obviously, this was not the intention of the book, but I think it sends the wrong message.
Overall, a cute silly book about a girl and her monster.
February 4, 2019
A book with humour and a little lesson for little kids.
April 5, 2019
Engaging advanced beginning reader/ early chapter book
May 10, 2019
I liked when Annie said thank you to her backpack.
December 26, 2019
I loved this book so much. My nanny girl i bought it for keeps asking for us to read it to her over and over again. To me that is the perfect book!
February 6, 2020
when Lisa got a new backpack for school, she got more than she expected. In it lived a little monster, and that monster made problems for Lisa. Cute story and fun illustrations.
November 25, 2022
Cute story. Funny and silly. Just like the title, there is a monster in Annie's purple flowery backpack. Great for transitional readers. Also close to a chapter book too.
January 23, 2025
Well…the monster did litter. Bad monster!
October 21, 2009
Annie is surprised one morning to find a monster living in her backpack! The monster ate her lunch, leaving her only sandwhich crusts and carrots! He does other silly things like sleep in her boots and rip up her homework for a "surprise". When Annie's friend asks her to trade backpacks, Annie has to think about it. What will become of "The Monster in the Backpack"?
I loved this story! This is a book for beginning readers, but one everyone can enjoy. The characters are interesting and funny, and really have a voice. This is a very sweet book!
I loved this story! This is a book for beginning readers, but one everyone can enjoy. The characters are interesting and funny, and really have a voice. This is a very sweet book!
November 1, 2015
This book was more plot heavy and wordy than I had expected. It's about a girl who gets a new backpack and discovers that with it came a cute little monster who is a bit of a troublemaker and likes stinky things. It shows how over the period of a day she learns to like the monster that initially she sees as nothing more than a nuisance. I'd be interested in seeing her grow up with the monster and more adventures for the two of them.
November 12, 2012
This is a darling little book I stumbled onto and am so glad I did. It is short enough for a good read-aloud, moves quick enough to keep even the most challenging child entertained and was even enjoyed by kids as old as 5th grade.
April 6, 2013
School aged children will love this silly story about a mischief-making yet adorable monster who lives in Annie's backpack. It's a little longer than most easy readers which may make it perfect for those transitioning into chapter books.
June 30, 2015
Perfect for preschoolers who want a little something scary, that actually isn't. The monster has more sides to its personality than you'd expect. And it's really funny. This pairs well with the classic Maggie and the Monster.
October 2, 2015
Funny, engaging, sweet! A book young school kids love. Great book for teacher's to use as a mentor text when teaching writing in second grade. Good examples of an author using actions, details, and dialogue.
May 20, 2016
Cute read. Level K book. It's a good transition from the picture book towards chapter books (while not being a chapter book). Definitely rec for some of the older readers that are struggling but really want to move into books that are like what their friends are reading.
August 31, 2016
This is a fairly adorable book for first or second graders. Preschoolers would still enjoy having it read to them.
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February 19, 2014Assigned: 2012 June, EL210
2014 March, ELL/EL210
2014 March, ELL/EL210
May 16, 2012
Super cute! I may have enjoyed this more than my son!
March 15, 2015
The girl bought a backpack. It came with flowers, blue and pick. It came with a zipper and a monster. The monster did a lot of trouble.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews