The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone -- a Review

Many people think that literary genres are limited to things like murder mysteries, romance, horror, and children's. It's time to think outside the box. One of the greatest literary genres of our time is the Sesame Street genre.

As any small child can tell you, Sesame Street books are both fun and educational. They teach you to embrace yourself and your differences from others. They teach you not to look down on others. They even teach you that there are advantages and disadvantages to whomever you are.

The Sesame Street book genre is based on the popular children's television show that started in 1969. They have been going strong for over 40 years. I was a year old when Sesame Street debuted, and I will admit, that I have been a lifelong fan of this show. I will still sit and watch it with my son if he'll sit still for it. He thinks it's a bit too childish. I don't have any idea what his problem is!

When I was three years old, I was introduced to one of the greatest literary masterpieces of all time entitled The Monster at the End of This Book. The main, and only character, in this book is Grover the monster. You may remember him as Super Grover, but there is so much more to his character than that one aspect.

This book has Grover read the title of the book and become frightened by the words. I mean, who isn't afraid of monsters? As the book progresses, Grover finds some ingenious ways of trying to keep the child from turning the page, in order to avoid his fear of the monster at the end. As the pages are turned, each of his creations is destroyed. He tries tying the pages together. He tries nailing the pages together. He tries building a brick wall to keep the pages from being turned. Finally, knowing the next page is the end, he begs and pleads with the reader to stop reading the book and stop turning pages.

At the end, it is of course, only Grover. Grover was the only monster at the end, and he, himself, was what he had been fearing the entire time. This is a great book for teaching children to face their fears, because whatever they fear may not be what they think it is.

This book is also good for teaching imagination. Memorize the book, and then have the children turn the pages. Use Grover's voice and plead with them not to turn the pages, while holding an imaginary book. Let the children take the book home with them. They can each keep a copy of this imaginary book.

Please read this book, by yourself or with your child. Your life will be enriched for having done so.