Imagine a time and a place where monsters are not scary and spooky creatures but friends and companions for the child he or she chooses. Marilyn is very upset when she watches monsters of all sizes and appearances play and laugh with her classmates.
Marilyn tries every trick in the book to lure a monster into her life but nothing works. Her mother, father, and brother assure her that her monster will eventually show up. A girl suggests that maybe her monster is just running late; a boy adds his two cents: "Maybe it's invisible, and it's been here all along, and you didn't even notice." Frustrated, Marilyn goes out to the woods, hoping to find him there.
Michele Knudson is author of many books for children including The New York Times bestselling Library Lion. Illustrator Matt Phelan admits: "Drawing monsters is probably one of the main reasons I became an illustrator in the first place." Their obvious enjoyment of Marilyn's quest for her monster shines through both the dialogue and the illustrations. Marilyn's Monster is recommended for children from ages 4 through 8.
