Blue Monster

by Petr Horacek
Blue Monster cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Technical:
  • ID: 341
  • Added: 2025-09-10
  • Updated: 2025-09-10
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
justimagine.co.uk · Unknown · 2025-09-18
delightful 4.50

Blue Monster is a delightful and anarchic tale that blends friendship and silliness, perfect for read-aloud sessions and sparking discussions. Not Fair, Bear! is a humorous story about compromise and friendship, with vibrant illustrations and a 'Big Feelings' spread for further exploration.

Blue Monster by Petr Horáček is a charming and chaotic story that combines friendship and humor. The tale of Blue Monster swallowing his friends and then realizing his mistake is both shocking and amusing, making it a great read-aloud book. The illustrations are vibrant and engaging, and the story serves as an excellent starting point for discussions about appropriate behavior and friendship. Not Fair, Bear! by Lorna Scobie is another delightful story that focuses on the challenges of friendship and the importance of compromise. The story of Squirrel and Bear highlights the difficulties that arise from differing interests and sizes, leading to a humorous and heartwarming resolution. The book's lively illustrations and the included 'Big Feelings' spread make it a valuable resource for both home and classroom settings.

Quick quotes

    Petr Horáček’s tale is a surprising mix of friendship and silliness; it’s also a tad anarchic and a terrific read aloud that will both shock and amuse young listeners as well as being a great starting point for discussion be that in the classroom or at home.

    Lorna Scobie’s lively, funny story about learning to compromise is dramatically presented both in words and pictures.

    It’s followed by a ‘Big Feelings’ spread for children and adults to talk about together either at home or in a foundation stage setting.

booksfortopics.com · Unknown · 2025-09-18
captivating 4.50

Blue Monster is a captivating story that explores themes of guilt and redemption through a simple yet complex narrative. The artwork is vibrant and expressive, perfectly complementing the text and enhancing the emotional depth of the story.

Blue Monster tells the story of a monster who swallows his friends after they refuse to play with him or challenge him. The narrative initially appears to be a straightforward moral tale about the power of apologies, but upon closer examination, it delves into deeper questions about guilt and the consequences of one's actions. The story's simplicity is deceptive, as it challenges young readers to ponder complex concepts like why the monster lies and what guilt truly means. The artwork by Petr Horacek is a standout feature, with chaotic scribbles adding to the colors of the animals and a sense of movement. The facial expressions of the characters are particularly noteworthy, capturing the mood perfectly. For instance, when the animals emerge from being swallowed by the monster, their downturned mouths and sidelong glances convey their understandable frustration. This book is a wonderful addition to children's literature, offering both entertainment and food for thought.

Quick quotes

    The history of children’s books with a moral goes back a long way, and on the first reading this looks like just the latest exploration of the idea that apologies solve problems.

    A slower consideration of the text makes for a more carnival reading, a deeper understanding.

    The artwork is wonderful, with chaotic scribbles adding to the colours of the animals and the sense of movement, and just the right amount of facial expression for a young reader to pore over, matching the text well.

booksforkeeps.co.uk · Unknown · 2025-03-14
delightful 4.50

Blue Monster is a delightful book that encourages discussions about behavior, impulsive actions, and the importance of forgiveness and friendship. The illustrations are accessible to young children and convey emotions effectively.

Blue Monster is an absolutely delightful book that made the reviewer laugh on first reading. It tells the story of Blue Monster who eats his friends after they refuse to play with him, leading to a series of events that ultimately result in forgiveness. The text encourages discussions about the rights and wrongs of behavior, how small misdemeanors can escalate, and the importance of forgiveness and friendship. The illustrations are very accessible to young children and can help them develop their own artistic skills, although capturing the emotions as effectively as Petr Horacek does would be challenging. This book is an excellent addition to the Early Years classroom and is sure to become a firm favorite.

Quick quotes

    This is an absolutely delightful book which made me laugh on first reading.

    A group of Reception children took a rather more earnest attitude and assured me that it really was very naughty to eat your friends and that they would definitely never do that.

    The illustrations are very accessible to young children and indeed they can develop their own in a similar style.

redreadinghub.blog · Unknown · 2024-09-12
heartwarming 4.50

Blue Monster is a heartwarming story about friendship and acceptance, with vibrant illustrations that bring the characters to life. The book's message of kindness and understanding is beautifully conveyed, making it a great choice for young readers.

Blue Monster is a delightful picture book that explores themes of friendship and acceptance. The story follows a little monster who is different from the others, but through kindness and understanding, he finds his place. The illustrations are vibrant and engaging, capturing the emotions of the characters perfectly. The book's message is clear and heartwarming, making it a great choice for young readers who are learning about empathy and inclusion. The simple yet powerful text makes it accessible for early readers, while the deeper themes make it a great discussion starter for older children.

Quick quotes

    The illustrations are vibrant and engaging.

    The book's message of kindness and understanding is beautifully conveyed.

    A great choice for young readers who are learning about empathy and inclusion.

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