Reviews

Marilyn's Monster by Michelle Knudsen

libwinnie's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Everyone else has their monster but Marilyn. Lovely pictures and a great message that sometimes you have to stop waiting around for good things and go out and make them happen.

annabannana's review against another edition

Go to review page

I feel as if someone gave the assignment to picture book authors in a workshop: "Write a story about how every kid gets a monster, but one kid doesn't get theirs right away. Make sure the eventual connection between monster and kid involves the monster sitting in a tree. Begin." And then Beekle was written by a man about an imaginary friend and his boy, and Marilyn's Monster was written by a woman about a girl and her monster...
Or maybe, 2 authors were having coffee one day and discussing what subject they should use for their next story books, and one said, "It could be about imaginary friends," and the other said, "I like how the monsters in the closets become friends with their kids in Monsters Inc.," and the first one said, "Where would the kid and the imaginary friend find each other?" and the second one said, "Look at that silly squirrel sitting in the tree! What is he waiting for?" And the two coffee drinkers looked at each other with gleams in their eyes and ran off to their writing spots to see who could publish the most awesome story with beautiful pictures first.
I don't know the actual reason both these stories are so similar and published so close to each other. I don't know if it was pure coincidence or not. I do know that both books hold their own. Both are beautifully illustrated, beautifully written, sweet stories. The points they make are slightly different. I really enjoyed both of them. And if you read them, you can't help but compare them.

jaij7's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This is an amazing story about finding your monster. I loved it.

johnnymacaroni's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Especially love the illustrations.

mrsalliea's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Cute. Oddly reminiscent of "The Adventures of Beekle".

mirable's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Marilyn is a smart girl, waiting patiently for her monster to find her, but eventually she is not willing to continue waiting when it doesn't show up in good time. She takes the initiative to go and look for her monster and it's a good thing she does!

This is an adorable story about wanting to fit in and having what everyone else has, while still keeping true to yourself. The art is beautiful, soft pastels and not-too-scary monsters.

beths0103's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time, not just because of how good and content it made me feel at the end, but because there's a lot of complexity in the story that I know I missed upon first reading. This is one of those picture books that I can see very clearly being discussed in a university children's lit class because not only does it appeal to kids on an aesthetic level, but it also appeals to adults on an analytic level.

danicamidlil's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I can't wait to find my monster!

turrean's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

A splendid story. Marilyn is waiting and waiting for something that all the other kids seem to have: their own monsters. She has no fabulous creature to keep her company, to play with, to keep her from being scared at night. But everyone tells Marilyn she must simply be patient and wait. But Marilyn, determined, sets out to find HER special creature.

The story works on so many levels. It's a picture book about kids who have monsters for friends. It's a fantasy about companionship. It's--perhaps--an allegory about finding friendship or your special talent or your place in the world.

afro8921's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Marilyn has been waiting on her monster forever! She tries not looking for her monster, pretending she doesn't want a monster, and practicing being an interesting person. When none of these schemes work, Marilyn takes her search for her monster on the road. This book deals with waiting expectantly and putting your feet to your faith. Faith without works is dead!