Stone, J., & Smollin,
M. (2004). The monster at the end of this book. New York: Golden Books.
Reading level: AD450L
Interest level: Grades PreK - 2
Featuring affable Grover of PBS
puppet fame, “The Monster at the End of This Book,” isn’t a narrative, but
rather involves the reader/listener in a direct conversation with the “Sesame Street”
creature. Grover reveals right away that there is, as the title suggests, a
monster at the end of the book, and he begs the read to please, PLEASE stop
turning pages. “Did that say there will be a Monster at the end of this book?
IT DID? Oh, I am so scared of Monsters!!!” Of course, the reader must turn pages – the very form of any
book entreaties us to keep turning pages all the way to the end. The tension
created by this defiance, despite Grover’s increasingly impassioned pleas and
admonitions (“YOU TURNED THE PAGE!”), makes reading this book aloud a lot of
fun for both the listeners and the speaker. Spoiler alert, Grover is a monster,
and he is the monster at the end of the book… this begs an interesting
discussion about why Grover is afraid of monsters if he is a monster himself.
Repeated readings don’t diminish the listener’s enjoyment, even after the
“twist” is revealed, especially if the speaker uses a lot of expression and, if
possible, a gruff, gurgly Groveresque voice. In the classroom, you could use
this book to demonstrate how important expression is when reading, as well as
how foreshadowing can create interest and drama.