What if monsters weren’t scary at all, but instead made fantastic friends? Today’s book helps us imagine a world where every child has a special monster friend. Featuring Marilyn's Monster by Michelle Knudsen, illustrations by Matt Phelan.

Get this book: | |

Marilyn's Monster by Michelle Knudsen

MARILYN'S MONSTER. Text copyright © 2015 by Michelle Knudsen. Illustrations copyright © 2015 by Matt Phelan. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, , Somerville, MA.

.


PICTURE THIS: MORE FROM THE ILLUSTRATOR

A monster sketch by Matt Phelan
Matt Phelan's challenge: Draw a monster a day!
Courtesy of Matt Phelan

Illustrator had the monstrously fun task of designing the creatures that fill Marilyn’s Monster. To get into the groove, he drew one monster everyday in his sketchbook.

“Some monsters reflected their kids. I imagine Marilyn’s brother’s monster squeezing his head a bit too tight. Maybe that’s why her brother acts the way he does,” Phelan said.

If you’re feeling inspired and want to start sketching yourself, Phelan shared his tips for crafting your own creatures.

Instructions for how to draw a monster, from illustrator Matt Phelan
Courtesy of Matt Phelan

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY: MAKE YOUR OWN MONSTER

After listening to the very first episode, keep your imagination going and draw a picture of what your — and your family’s — monsters might look like. Do they have wings? Tails? Feathers? Scales?

Consider illustrator Matt Phelan’s tips when you’re crafting creatures of your very own. You can always share your pictures with the Julie’s Library team, and they might even land on our library’s fridge.

Send us your monsters!


THE BACKSTORY

“Sometimes ideas for books just pop into my head. So for this story, I saw an image in my mind of a classroom and some of the kids had monsters sitting on their desks, or looking at them through the window — and there was one girl sitting all alone who didn’t have a monster.” –, author of Marilyn's Monster


READING RECOMMENDATIONS

If you enjoyed diving into the world of monsters, here are more books to explore!

The Hideout by Susanna Mattiangeli

The Hideout by Susanna Mattiangeli 

Get this book: | |

Marisol McDonald and the Monster by Monica Brown

Marisol McDonald and the Monster by Monica Brown 

Get this book: | |  

Alma and the Beast by Esme Shapiro

Alma and the Beast by Esme Shapiro 

Get this book: | |

She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton

She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton

Get this book: | |

If Your Monster Won’t Go To Bed by Denise Vega

If Your Monster Won’t Go To Bed by Denise Vega

Get this book: | |  

Monsters New Undies by Samantha Berger

Monsters New Undies by Samantha Berger

Get this book: | |

Mostly Monsterly by Tammi Sauer

Mostly Monsterly by Tammi Sauer

Get this book: | |

Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

Get this book: | |


WONDERFUL WORDS

In this episode, we celebrated the words serendipity and thermos.

Submit your own Wonderful Words.