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This book is about a little boy in class who is never happy. He doesn't like to participate in class activities and gets frustrated when his projects aren't as good as the others. One day he draws a picture that everyone in the class loves. The compliments and his self approval make him so happy that he joins in with the rest of the class in the rest of the day's activities.

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/Kids/AuthorsAndIllustrators/ContributorDet...
This website shows a picture and tells about the author.

This book would be great to read on the first day of school. It talks about all the fun things you will do and learn and the friends you will make. Your class could draw a picture of what they would want to learn and do in class and try to do most of their ideas somehow. ( )

While not as ubiquitous as Mercer Mayer's "Little Critter", Little Monster proves a capable narrator, and does a good job of taking a pre-kindergartener through a typical day at school. Though some aspects are dated (do that many kids carry tin lunch boxes anymore?), most of the events in the day will be familiar to young children.

As a child, I always reveled in the tiny details in this book--Little Monster's gremlin-like pet; the carefully drawn toys and school supplies that fill every page; and, of course, the side conversations with Yally, the grumpy monster who just wants to be good at something. ( )

EducatingParents.org rating: Approved