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Big Little Golden Books
The Monster at the End of this Book
"On the first page, what did that say? Did that say there will be a Monster at the end of the book???"
Read along as Grover begs you not to turn the page—because there is a monster at this end of this book!
Lovable, furry old Grover is distressed to learn that there's a monster at the end of this book! He begs readers not to turn the pages, but of course kids feel they just have to see this monster for themselves. Grover is astonished—and toddlers will be delighted—to discover who is really the monster at the end of the book!
Many adults name this book as their favorite Little Golden Book. This all-time favorite is now available as a Big Little Golden Book—perfect for lap-time reading.
Jon Stone (1931–1997) is the author of this book, but he was also Sesame Street's principal director until 1996. Working with Jim Henson, he helped create many of the Muppet characters, including Big Bird and Cookie Monster. He was also responsible for the show's format and setting. Stone contributed occasional announcer voices (such as the soap opera promo spoof "School in the Afternoon"), and served similar duty on two Muppet Meeting Films. Stone died of complications from Lou Gehrig's disease on March 30th, 1997. In his New York Times obituary, Joan Ganz Cooney describes Stone as "probably the most brilliant writer of children's television material in America".
Read along as Grover begs you not to turn the page—because there is a monster at this end of this book!
Lovable, furry old Grover is distressed to learn that there's a monster at the end of this book! He begs readers not to turn the pages, but of course kids feel they just have to see this monster for themselves. Grover is astonished—and toddlers will be delighted—to discover who is really the monster at the end of the book!
Many adults name this book as their favorite Little Golden Book. This all-time favorite is now available as a Big Little Golden Book—perfect for lap-time reading.
Jon Stone (1931–1997) is the author of this book, but he was also Sesame Street's principal director until 1996. Working with Jim Henson, he helped create many of the Muppet characters, including Big Bird and Cookie Monster. He was also responsible for the show's format and setting. Stone contributed occasional announcer voices (such as the soap opera promo spoof "School in the Afternoon"), and served similar duty on two Muppet Meeting Films. Stone died of complications from Lou Gehrig's disease on March 30th, 1997. In his New York Times obituary, Joan Ganz Cooney describes Stone as "probably the most brilliant writer of children's television material in America".
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
About the author
Jon Stone
48 books52 followersStone graduated from Williams College in 1952. He received a master's degree from the Yale University School of Drama in 1955, at which time he joined a CBS training program. Before helping to create Sesame Street, he worked on the popular children's television show Captain Kangaroo for CBS. He also worked on several other Muppet projects before and during his time on Sesame Street, and was the author of several books including the popular "The Monster at the End of this Book". He was married for 9 years to actress Beverly Owen.
Stone was Sesame Street's principal director until 1996. Working with Jim Henson, he helped to create many of the Muppet characters, including Big Bird and Cookie Monster. He was also responsible for the show's format and setting. Stone contributed occasional announcer voices (such as the soap opera promo spoof "School in the Afternoon"), and served similar duty on two Muppet Meeting Films. In April 1990, Stone hosted and directed a television special titled Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music. The special was created as a tribute to Joe Raposo, who passed away from lymphoma in February 1989.
Jon Stone died of complications from Lou Gehrig's disease on March 30th, 1997. In his New York Times obituary, Joan Ganz Cooney describes Stone as "probably the most brilliant writer of children's television material in America."
Stone was Sesame Street's principal director until 1996. Working with Jim Henson, he helped to create many of the Muppet characters, including Big Bird and Cookie Monster. He was also responsible for the show's format and setting. Stone contributed occasional announcer voices (such as the soap opera promo spoof "School in the Afternoon"), and served similar duty on two Muppet Meeting Films. In April 1990, Stone hosted and directed a television special titled Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music. The special was created as a tribute to Joe Raposo, who passed away from lymphoma in February 1989.
Jon Stone died of complications from Lou Gehrig's disease on March 30th, 1997. In his New York Times obituary, Joan Ganz Cooney describes Stone as "probably the most brilliant writer of children's television material in America."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,373 reviews
March 31, 2023
A master class in suspense and successful twist endings. Hollywood, take note.
But for real, this was my now-12 year olds favorite book for a long time. I do find this book to be oddly sadistic too, like Grover is begging you not to send him to the monster and your child is supposed to just…gleefully knock down the ramparts he is frantically building and giggle all the way. The pure childhood giggle of joy or murder, who knows!? Anyways, I just found this photo from 2011
But for real, this was my now-12 year olds favorite book for a long time. I do find this book to be oddly sadistic too, like Grover is begging you not to send him to the monster and your child is supposed to just…gleefully knock down the ramparts he is frantically building and giggle all the way. The pure childhood giggle of joy or murder, who knows!? Anyways, I just found this photo from 2011
August 1, 2007
I had a very love/hate relationship with The Muppets in my early youth. I really, really liked watching "The Muppet Show" and "Sesame Street". They were two of my favorite shows, and I still hold both in high regard. However, every now and then and completely out of nowhere, a Muppet would do something that genuinely terrified me. For example, I really hated that old "Sesame" sketch when a couple of mild-mannered puppets would calmly take turns whispering words that rhymed to a gently jazzy beat, and then this orange hairy guy would barrel up to the screen, and, without regard for rhythm or personal space, bellow an unwieldy sentence containing all the words the less-horrific Muppets had so charmingly whispered earlier. That SCARED me. Badly. I was scared of beards, yelling, and any pictures or toys depicting someone or something with a gaping mouth.
Thus, I had serious issues with "Monster at the End of this Book". I was always very ill at ease with Grover, anyway. He caused terrible problems for everyone he encountered, and almost never showed remorse. Also, he couldn't seem to communicate without shouting and gesticulating wildly. I had real problems with the way he carried himself, so I knew going into the book that I probably wasn't going to like it much. What I didn't expect was to be profoundly affected, to the point of tears and sleepless nights, by a drawing of Grover, his furry mouth so wide with terror that his head resembled a blubbering halved blue grapefruit, positively out of control with horror and dread concerning the MONSTER that was about to destroy him, to destroy us all, because he'd spoken to me, personally, directly, about the effects the very book I held in my hands would have on the both of us in the immediate future.
I never appreciated or even detected the pleasingly ironic denouement of this, the most devious Little Golden Book of them all, until 4th or 5th grade, when I finally dared to finish the thing. In my preschool days, as far as I was concerned, they may as well have entitled the book "Grover Undergoes a Harrowing Mental Breakdown, and Will Implore You to Help Him Throughout (You Cannot)".
One star, one scar.
Thus, I had serious issues with "Monster at the End of this Book". I was always very ill at ease with Grover, anyway. He caused terrible problems for everyone he encountered, and almost never showed remorse. Also, he couldn't seem to communicate without shouting and gesticulating wildly. I had real problems with the way he carried himself, so I knew going into the book that I probably wasn't going to like it much. What I didn't expect was to be profoundly affected, to the point of tears and sleepless nights, by a drawing of Grover, his furry mouth so wide with terror that his head resembled a blubbering halved blue grapefruit, positively out of control with horror and dread concerning the MONSTER that was about to destroy him, to destroy us all, because he'd spoken to me, personally, directly, about the effects the very book I held in my hands would have on the both of us in the immediate future.
I never appreciated or even detected the pleasingly ironic denouement of this, the most devious Little Golden Book of them all, until 4th or 5th grade, when I finally dared to finish the thing. In my preschool days, as far as I was concerned, they may as well have entitled the book "Grover Undergoes a Harrowing Mental Breakdown, and Will Implore You to Help Him Throughout (You Cannot)".
One star, one scar.
December 15, 2015
This was one of my all-time favorite books when I was a kid. In the story, Grover begs the reader to stop turning pages because each page brings us closer to a monster at the end of the book, and Grover is afraid of monsters. He tries to nail the pages shut, he tries to tie the pages down, he even builds a brick wall. But somehow the reader always turns the page.
My mother used to read this book to me, and she was great at doing funny voices. I remember laughing so hard as she acted out Grover becoming more and more hysterical about the monster at the end of the book. (Children's Spoiler Alert: There is a monster, but he is a friendly one.)
Somewhere on a flash drive I have a video of my mom reading this story. A few years ago, I showed her the book and asked if I could record her reading it. She performed it perfectly, and it was a beautiful scene.
I have so many happy memories of my mother reading to me before bedtime. I am grateful for this book and for those memories. My sweet, brilliant mother. It is tragic that her brain has now been so damaged by cancer that she has trouble speaking and reading, but cancer can't rob me of those times.
Like Grover, I wish I could nail down some boards or build a brick wall to try and stop what is inevitable. I just hope there will be some friends there to help me through the scary parts.
November 1, 2015
My mother used to read this book to me, and she was great at doing funny voices. I remember laughing so hard as she acted out Grover becoming more and more hysterical about the monster at the end of the book. (Children's Spoiler Alert: There is a monster, but he is a friendly one.)
Somewhere on a flash drive I have a video of my mom reading this story. A few years ago, I showed her the book and asked if I could record her reading it. She performed it perfectly, and it was a beautiful scene.
I have so many happy memories of my mother reading to me before bedtime. I am grateful for this book and for those memories. My sweet, brilliant mother. It is tragic that her brain has now been so damaged by cancer that she has trouble speaking and reading, but cancer can't rob me of those times.
Like Grover, I wish I could nail down some boards or build a brick wall to try and stop what is inevitable. I just hope there will be some friends there to help me through the scary parts.
November 1, 2015
July 6, 2007
Riveting.
Gave me goose bumps.
A true page turner till the end.
Gave me goose bumps.
A true page turner till the end.
December 7, 2011
"I . . . am the monster"
Grover Monster
This is probably one of the most profound statements in literary history to date. Today, there are hundreds of books, films and television shows which address man's incapacity to negotiate his own darkness. In many variations of the tale, we see the darkness within projected outward, cast onto another real or imagined character. Stephen King's Secret Window, even the latest season of Dexter reacquaints us with this age-old phenomenon, but never have they explored it with the depth and finesse author Jon Stone did in the chilling The Monster at the End of this Book.
The tale begins with the seemingly lovable Grover, whose ambivalence has yet to be revealed. He fears the monster, an entity which he believes he shares no association with. His dissociation from his own darkness becomes apparent to the reader on the first page when Grover Monster ironically proclaims, "I am so scared of monsters" (Stone).
On subsequent pages, Grover's fear grows. But what does he truly fear? Does he fear the monster at the end of the book, or the fact that, upon reaching the end of the book, we will see him for who he truly is? If we align ourselves with the latter of these two possibilities, then the futility of his attempt to hinder our progress is augmented by the fact that even the casual observer can see Grover for what he truly is: a monster. On the other hand, if we believe Grover genuinely fears the monster at the end of the book, the text becomes a testament to identities which have become so fragmented that an individual interprets different facets of the self as separate individuals. The various mechanisms Grover constructs throughout the book follow in the vein of the former of these two possibilities, for it is the industrial era which catalyzed such fragmentation initially, and it is Grover's attempt to reconstruct the industrial mechanism, and his inability to adapt to the requirements of industry, which allow us to finish the text.
Over the next few pages, Grover treats the text as a serial killer might treat its victim, binding the book with rope, smothering the book with brick, and building a shack--likely in some remote location--in which he can hide the book away from the public eye. But all of his attempts to slow our progress prove only testament to his inability to adapt to the requirements of the harsh society whose growth is grounded in industry. Even the infantile readers can wretch victory from Grover's grasp simply by turning the pages. By turning the pages we leave him no choice but to identify himself with the only thing he can inherently identify himself as: the monster.
Grover's attempts to stop the reader from moving forward are reminiscent of the behaviors we all exhibit when trying to hide our darkest impulses. We try to box ourselves off from others, or "put up a wall." These very counterintuitive impulses are often what give us away. It is the hiding that reveals us.
While this text could be said to be a grim portrayal of our own fears and impulses, it ends on a positive note. Grover learns to embrace the monster within, and realizes that it is a benign force once refutation of its existence comes to an end, showing us that we all must accept the darkness within, for repression can only result in physiological complications and self-inflicted damage that far outweighs what we might perceive our inner demons to be capable of. The final message left to readers is best encapsulated by Grover's closing statement, "I told you and told you there was nothing to be afraid of." (Stone).
Grover Monster
This is probably one of the most profound statements in literary history to date. Today, there are hundreds of books, films and television shows which address man's incapacity to negotiate his own darkness. In many variations of the tale, we see the darkness within projected outward, cast onto another real or imagined character. Stephen King's Secret Window, even the latest season of Dexter reacquaints us with this age-old phenomenon, but never have they explored it with the depth and finesse author Jon Stone did in the chilling The Monster at the End of this Book.
The tale begins with the seemingly lovable Grover, whose ambivalence has yet to be revealed. He fears the monster, an entity which he believes he shares no association with. His dissociation from his own darkness becomes apparent to the reader on the first page when Grover Monster ironically proclaims, "I am so scared of monsters" (Stone).
On subsequent pages, Grover's fear grows. But what does he truly fear? Does he fear the monster at the end of the book, or the fact that, upon reaching the end of the book, we will see him for who he truly is? If we align ourselves with the latter of these two possibilities, then the futility of his attempt to hinder our progress is augmented by the fact that even the casual observer can see Grover for what he truly is: a monster. On the other hand, if we believe Grover genuinely fears the monster at the end of the book, the text becomes a testament to identities which have become so fragmented that an individual interprets different facets of the self as separate individuals. The various mechanisms Grover constructs throughout the book follow in the vein of the former of these two possibilities, for it is the industrial era which catalyzed such fragmentation initially, and it is Grover's attempt to reconstruct the industrial mechanism, and his inability to adapt to the requirements of industry, which allow us to finish the text.
Over the next few pages, Grover treats the text as a serial killer might treat its victim, binding the book with rope, smothering the book with brick, and building a shack--likely in some remote location--in which he can hide the book away from the public eye. But all of his attempts to slow our progress prove only testament to his inability to adapt to the requirements of the harsh society whose growth is grounded in industry. Even the infantile readers can wretch victory from Grover's grasp simply by turning the pages. By turning the pages we leave him no choice but to identify himself with the only thing he can inherently identify himself as: the monster.
Grover's attempts to stop the reader from moving forward are reminiscent of the behaviors we all exhibit when trying to hide our darkest impulses. We try to box ourselves off from others, or "put up a wall." These very counterintuitive impulses are often what give us away. It is the hiding that reveals us.
While this text could be said to be a grim portrayal of our own fears and impulses, it ends on a positive note. Grover learns to embrace the monster within, and realizes that it is a benign force once refutation of its existence comes to an end, showing us that we all must accept the darkness within, for repression can only result in physiological complications and self-inflicted damage that far outweighs what we might perceive our inner demons to be capable of. The final message left to readers is best encapsulated by Grover's closing statement, "I told you and told you there was nothing to be afraid of." (Stone).
July 30, 2010
‘Oh great,’ you’re thinking, ‘another witty endeavor where a Goodreader reflects back on a childhood favorite. Oh joy.'
Well, suck it up and deal.
A-hem… While rifling through the book section at my local Goodwill; I came across this little gem. Copyright 1980, Little Golden Books® edition complete with all our favorite characters outlining the back cover… The Tawny Scrawny Lion, Tootle, The Poky Little Puppy… that famous gold-foil binding (seriously, it says so… right on the back!) A little girl even signed her name! Natalia (you just know she had one of those stage moms cramming her Airabesques down her throat before a Nutcracker performance... you can just see it...)
Anyway… I grabbed this treasure and let out a little yip of delight. God, I LOVED this book! And what a cool edition! So, I paid my 99 cents and skittered on home to *share* with my kids. Bonding! Instant Memories! Up your a**, Norman Rockwell!
Clearly, my children have been brainwashed by sponges named Bob and Hedgehogs wearing gloves and little pokey-things. But, I didn’t give up… I found the correct remote(s), shut down all things electronic, sat them down in a semi circle at my feet---and with a relish unbeknownst to even myself--- read them this mutha-f**king classic!
“So? Huh? Whaddya think? Huh? Well?’
Emily (15): What’s wrong with you?
Marley (11): That was weird.
Isabel (9): I LOVED it! It was AWESOME!
Satchel (5): Can I play the Wii now?
Disenchantment. Exasperation. Fail.
I reread the book again. I could taste the trust...the anticipation as we defy Grover and turn the page, the tickling blue fur and purple spongy nose that I fell in love with... I could feel it all.
Then I read it again.
Okay, why is this so endearing to me? I scanned my memory banks… did Mom or Dad read this to me? Hell no.. they never read to me… Was it a beloved teacher? My very own Montambo? Gah… no…. where the hell did I first read this? Was it when I was older and thought it would make me cool to revisit my youthful Sesame Street Days? Could be… sounds a bit cliché for me, but okay…
Then I read it again….
This book is freaking mental. I mean throughout the whole book you’re being told that you shouldn’t turn the page because there’s a freaking monster at the end of it. Why do you keep turning the damn page? Is it the font? Is it the colorful print? Is it all the attempts that Grover makes to NOT make you turn the page? Rope and wood and bricks and nails and… Why didn’t this book scare the hell out of me? I’m a nervous Nellie by nature. Why didn’t I throw this book in the basement with the crickets and the Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass albums?
Okay, I get it… it’s supposed to teach kids to not judge and to not be afraid and to take a chance. Okay… but after a lifetime of disappointments and negative illuminations… this book leads to an anxiety attack. No double rainbows today.
August 1, 2018
Top 8 Most Shocking Twists In Literature
8. Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
7. We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley jackson
6. The Castle by Kafka (Twist ending: the guy dies! No, not that guy. Kafka. Like mid-sentence.)
5. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
4. Money: A Suicide Note by Martin Amis
3. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (Reader, you what? Why?)
2. Borges, especially most of The Aleph
1. The monster at the end of this book
A metafictional analysis of the crushing dichotomy between who we want to be and who we really are, this book contains the entire agony of a disillusioned life in its chained pages. Stone's avatar is, cleverly, an idol of our youth, the inexplicable Grover. We find him in his youthful idealism, vowing to keep the monster he feels lurking in the world around him at bay. We track him through his heroic efforts to beat fate itself. We feel the inevitability of his defeat - the ending is writ in the title. But this is our childhood champion, our Super Grover! How can he lose? We expect a twist ending. Surely, he cannot fail.
And then: the twist comes, but it's the twist of a dagger, as our protagonist realizes that he himself has always been the very thing he most fears.
He is the monster. You are the monster. We...we are all the monster.
8. Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
7. We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley jackson
6. The Castle by Kafka (Twist ending: the guy dies! No, not that guy. Kafka. Like mid-sentence.)
5. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
4. Money: A Suicide Note by Martin Amis
3. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (Reader, you what? Why?)
2. Borges, especially most of The Aleph
1. The monster at the end of this book
A metafictional analysis of the crushing dichotomy between who we want to be and who we really are, this book contains the entire agony of a disillusioned life in its chained pages. Stone's avatar is, cleverly, an idol of our youth, the inexplicable Grover. We find him in his youthful idealism, vowing to keep the monster he feels lurking in the world around him at bay. We track him through his heroic efforts to beat fate itself. We feel the inevitability of his defeat - the ending is writ in the title. But this is our childhood champion, our Super Grover! How can he lose? We expect a twist ending. Surely, he cannot fail.
And then: the twist comes, but it's the twist of a dagger, as our protagonist realizes that he himself has always been the very thing he most fears.
He is the monster. You are the monster. We...we are all the monster.
August 13, 2020
Little Golden Books were everywhere when my children were little. Now, forty years on, they are like hens' teeth. This, I ended up ordering online along with Grover's Own Alphabet for my grandson's Christmas parcel. However, I didn't hide everything as cleverly as I thought I had, and he stumbled upon my secret stash. I let him keep this out...
He wasn't too sure about the monster on the first reading. He laughed uproariously at Grover tying and nailing the pages together, then building a brick wall so that the pages couldn't get turned and bring us any closer to the monster at the end of the book. But when it came to actually turning the last page it was, 'You do it, Nana. You turn the page.'
Once he saw it was only Grover, he thought it was hilarious and we read The Monster at the End of This Book many times that afternoon. Luke loves this as much as his father and uncle did. And I love reading it. It has so much scope for amateur dramatics!
The Monster at the End of This Book is part of the excellent Sesame Street series.
Five big flashing shooting stars.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
He wasn't too sure about the monster on the first reading. He laughed uproariously at Grover tying and nailing the pages together, then building a brick wall so that the pages couldn't get turned and bring us any closer to the monster at the end of the book. But when it came to actually turning the last page it was, 'You do it, Nana. You turn the page.'
Once he saw it was only Grover, he thought it was hilarious and we read The Monster at the End of This Book many times that afternoon. Luke loves this as much as his father and uncle did. And I love reading it. It has so much scope for amateur dramatics!
The Monster at the End of This Book is part of the excellent Sesame Street series.
Five big flashing shooting stars.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
January 18, 2024
This was a shocking ending the first time I read it! Special place on my list of books that helped me learn to read. Fun to revisit some of the books that made me want to read more; I am sure we all have those books that really made us the readers we are today!
January 18, 2009
This book starts out great! I love Grover.
The problem is that Grover asks you to not turn any more pages, because of his belief that there is a monster at the end of the book. I decided to honor Grover's wish.
Oh, I turned a few pages. But when Grover took the time to tie all the pages together to discourage me from turning any more, well, I just didn't have the heart to go on. The little guy was really scared.
But I can't help but think.....are all monsters necessarily bad? You know it's funny - one could ALMOST consider Grover himself to be a type of monster.....
Well, it's not for me to decide now. I chose to respect Grover's feelings.
The problem is that Grover asks you to not turn any more pages, because of his belief that there is a monster at the end of the book. I decided to honor Grover's wish.
Oh, I turned a few pages. But when Grover took the time to tie all the pages together to discourage me from turning any more, well, I just didn't have the heart to go on. The little guy was really scared.
But I can't help but think.....are all monsters necessarily bad? You know it's funny - one could ALMOST consider Grover himself to be a type of monster.....
Well, it's not for me to decide now. I chose to respect Grover's feelings.
May 17, 2018
If you want to see your little ones not being able to stop giggling every time you dare to turn a page; then you need to get this book.
Besides the beautiful words by Jon Stone, there are also these beautiful illustrations by Michael Smollin.
I have to say that if a book is good, it doesn't really matter when it was published. It can be popular and successful for ever.
This is our new favourite book.
Besides the beautiful words by Jon Stone, there are also these beautiful illustrations by Michael Smollin.
I have to say that if a book is good, it doesn't really matter when it was published. It can be popular and successful for ever.
This is our new favourite book.
June 1, 2018
I bought this for my grandbaby, in the interest of getting him away from electronics and into real books.
We read it 4 times in the first sitting. Even then I had to cut him off so he could go home and get to bed....
#Win
We read it 4 times in the first sitting. Even then I had to cut him off so he could go home and get to bed....
#Win
October 9, 2007
We are the monster we fear.
We are also the monster that induces fear in others, sometimes by an act as simple as turning a page.
The reader is the author of meaning.
Simply existing and acting causes ripples in the realities of others which we are incapable of comprehending.
When you pick up a stone, the earth is lighter.
When you turn the page, you are one moment closer to your own death.
Not turning the page will not make the monster at the end of this book dissapear either, he will never go away.
He is you.
We are also the monster that induces fear in others, sometimes by an act as simple as turning a page.
The reader is the author of meaning.
Simply existing and acting causes ripples in the realities of others which we are incapable of comprehending.
When you pick up a stone, the earth is lighter.
When you turn the page, you are one moment closer to your own death.
Not turning the page will not make the monster at the end of this book dissapear either, he will never go away.
He is you.
November 9, 2017
This is a book that I read hundreds of times to my kids. It is so much fun! But, as a Gran, what I really love is hearing my daughter read it to her little boy with the same voices and inflections I used when I read it to her. Generations of readers!😊
February 16, 2024
The creativity of author Jon Stone (director of the Sesame Street television series from its 1969 inception all the way to 1994) is remarkable, and Michael J. Smollin's illustrations are a perfect fit. I revisit this book often for the reminder that the monsters we fear becoming if we turn too many pages in life are not monsters at all; they are still us, only more insightful for the experiences we've had.
This is one of the earliest picture books I remember loving. The Monster at the End of This Book has been part of my life essentially since the beginning, a wise and entertaining story I cherish always.
This is one of the earliest picture books I remember loving. The Monster at the End of This Book has been part of my life essentially since the beginning, a wise and entertaining story I cherish always.
April 28, 2011
I do an ass kicking impersonation of Grover. Just ask my kids.
Actually, I can do any of the Muppets voiced by Frank Oz -- Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Sam the Eagle, Cookie Monster, Bert, even Yoda (which is my son's fave), but Grover is my best.
So when I was looking for a book for my little Scoutie a couple of months ago, something that I could hide away and save for just her and me, and I stumbled upon a little board book version of this Little Golden Book classic, I had to have it.
I'd forgotten all about it, but when I was a little kid this was one of my favourite books. When our twins came, and even when they started to like classic Sesame Street (they've still never seen an episode with Elmo and Zoe, or anything post 1979 ... what a proud Papa I am!), this book never crossed my mind. But when I saw the lone copy sitting up on that shelf, I snatched it and headed for the cashier.
As soon as I was in my car, I had the book out and I read it out loud, as Grover, to myself.
I love this book because Scoutie loves to hear me read it to her, and who doesn't love to have their babe waddle up with her favourite book in hand before climbing awkwardly onto your lap and saying "wead!"?
I love this book because it reminds me that I was once a little we babe crawling up onto my Mom's lap so she could read it to me.
I love this book because Grover is, for me, the most magical Sesame Street Muppet.
But mostly I love this book because I love this book. It is clever and cute and fun, which is exactly what Grover is. If you've never read this yourself, you should. And if you have kids and haven't read it to them, you must.
Actually, I can do any of the Muppets voiced by Frank Oz -- Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Sam the Eagle, Cookie Monster, Bert, even Yoda (which is my son's fave), but Grover is my best.
So when I was looking for a book for my little Scoutie a couple of months ago, something that I could hide away and save for just her and me, and I stumbled upon a little board book version of this Little Golden Book classic, I had to have it.
I'd forgotten all about it, but when I was a little kid this was one of my favourite books. When our twins came, and even when they started to like classic Sesame Street (they've still never seen an episode with Elmo and Zoe, or anything post 1979 ... what a proud Papa I am!), this book never crossed my mind. But when I saw the lone copy sitting up on that shelf, I snatched it and headed for the cashier.
As soon as I was in my car, I had the book out and I read it out loud, as Grover, to myself.
I love this book because Scoutie loves to hear me read it to her, and who doesn't love to have their babe waddle up with her favourite book in hand before climbing awkwardly onto your lap and saying "wead!"?
I love this book because it reminds me that I was once a little we babe crawling up onto my Mom's lap so she could read it to me.
I love this book because Grover is, for me, the most magical Sesame Street Muppet.
But mostly I love this book because I love this book. It is clever and cute and fun, which is exactly what Grover is. If you've never read this yourself, you should. And if you have kids and haven't read it to them, you must.
November 18, 2018
This book is the reason why Grover was and is my favorite muppet of all time!
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April 23, 2009(4/23/09) I saw a quote from this book on my friend Misha's profile last night and a flood of good feelings came rushing over me. While I don't remember the specifics of the story (other than the surprise ending!), I do remember reading it a hundred thousand times. I remember the golden spine, a different texture than the rest of the hard cover. I remember, that maybe, years later, the dog chewed the corner. And I remember loving this book a lot.
Funny, as I think about it now, I wonder why I've lived such a fearful life. Doesn't this book teach us that sometimes our fears are blown way out of proportion? Or maybe it teaches us, that we, ourselves, are our own worst nightmares; that I am the monster at the end of my own book. How scary is that...?
Funny, as I think about it now, I wonder why I've lived such a fearful life. Doesn't this book teach us that sometimes our fears are blown way out of proportion? Or maybe it teaches us, that we, ourselves, are our own worst nightmares; that I am the monster at the end of my own book. How scary is that...?
August 18, 2021
Oh, how I loved this book! My kids weren't terribly impressed, perhaps because they had been exposed to more meta fictions, including the work of David Wiesner. Besides, when I was a kid, Sesame Street was it for educational programming, whereas they had entire channels devoted to them.
still love this book. I'm not sure I even realized that Grover was supposed to be a monster, until I read this.
***
Recently I've had a hankering for Grover, today I located my copy. And the younger of the Offspring picked it up for a read, for the first time in maybe ten years. "It's a classic. The plot twist! The hand-lettering."
Maybe it's just better after a long absence.
still love this book. I'm not sure I even realized that Grover was supposed to be a monster, until I read this.
***
Recently I've had a hankering for Grover, today I located my copy. And the younger of the Offspring picked it up for a read, for the first time in maybe ten years. "It's a classic. The plot twist! The hand-lettering."
Maybe it's just better after a long absence.
March 18, 2019
I can't begin to express just how much of a favorite this was in my childhood!
My mom would do her best Grover voice and would mock struggle with each page turn (just as it should be read) and my sister and I would giggle and laugh so much, throwing in our muscle to try and help with turning the pages.
Struggling to turn a page, you say? Well, I guess you'll just have to read it.
Ages: 3 -7
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
My mom would do her best Grover voice and would mock struggle with each page turn (just as it should be read) and my sister and I would giggle and laugh so much, throwing in our muscle to try and help with turning the pages.
Struggling to turn a page, you say? Well, I guess you'll just have to read it.
Ages: 3 -7
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
March 29, 2022
A relatable, sympathetic, less-than-reliable central character. A high-stakes battle with psychological or even physical death set out from the very first page. Lots of emotionally compelling twists and reversals. An incremental sense of creeping dread. And finally, a shocking reveal. THE MONSTER AT THE END OF THIS BOOK is, in barely a few hundred words, a pitch-perfect guide to writing watertight suspense, and should be used in workshops, seminars and even MFA workshops as a way to remind writers to follow craft guru James Scott Bell's maxim to infuse every passage and every page with pleasurable uncertainty — and to throw overboard any prose that doesn't advance the plot or develop character.
THE MONSTER AT THE END OF THIS BOOK is a towering landmark in suspense craft, and has rightly earned its place in the literary canon as one of the most beloved thrillers of all time.
THE MONSTER AT THE END OF THIS BOOK is a towering landmark in suspense craft, and has rightly earned its place in the literary canon as one of the most beloved thrillers of all time.
January 13, 2019
This Book Is One Of The Few Hardcovers I Have In My Tiny House (Airstream)
It Has Sentimental Value As It Belonged To My Nephew
His Father My Brother Read It To Him As A Child
I Happened To Be There When My Brother Read It For The First Time
He Was Laughing So Hard He Almost Couldn't Keep Going
My Brother Was A Very Serious Introvert
He Passed Away In 1999
I Keep This Copy To Remind Me Of His Laugh
May 6, 2016
You haven't really read this until you've read it over thirty times in three days to a six year old with severely violent tendencies due to autism.
March 3, 2018
A firm favourite on my bookshelf. Loved by children both big and small. Recommended.
May 11, 2015
What can i say? Classics never die! It's time to be a kid again.
The first time i read this book i was 8 years old, it was a birthday present from my parents, i was so happy because i loved Sesame Street, Who doesn't love S.S when they are kids right?
The most amazing thing about this book is that Grover is trying to stop us from reaching the end of the book, where he knows there is a monster and when we are kids we love to be scared because deep down, we know we are in no real danger.
So we turn page after page even when Grover beg us to stop, page after page until we reach the end.
And then it turns out that the monster at the end of the book is Grover himself.
It was very funny when i was 8 years old.
Last week digging through my old stuff, I found my old copy of this book so naturally I started to read it , it was all fun and games until it wasn't, because now that I'm older I think really understand the meaning of this book...
Often we live our lives afraid of the monster under the bed without knowing that the monster is us.
We are only afraid of ourselves.
The first time i read this book i was 8 years old, it was a birthday present from my parents, i was so happy because i loved Sesame Street, Who doesn't love S.S when they are kids right?
The most amazing thing about this book is that Grover is trying to stop us from reaching the end of the book, where he knows there is a monster and when we are kids we love to be scared because deep down, we know we are in no real danger.
So we turn page after page even when Grover beg us to stop, page after page until we reach the end.
And then it turns out that the monster at the end of the book is Grover himself.
It was very funny when i was 8 years old.
Last week digging through my old stuff, I found my old copy of this book so naturally I started to read it , it was all fun and games until it wasn't, because now that I'm older I think really understand the meaning of this book...
Often we live our lives afraid of the monster under the bed without knowing that the monster is us.
We are only afraid of ourselves.
January 30, 2008
This is my youngest daughter’s “most favoritest book” and to be honest, it is a joy to read it with her… every night… until she finds another favoritest book.
March 15, 2018
Το διάβασα με την φωνή του Γκρόβερ 💗
December 31, 2022
My favorite book , aww childhood I miss you
March 4, 2024
GAS
I am going to hit this Goodreads book goal if it kills me
I am going to hit this Goodreads book goal if it kills me
December 13, 2019
I am impatiently anticipating the exciting moment when I can read this book aloud to my daughter. One of my favorites of the many Golden Books that I cherished as a kid, "The Monster at the End of this Book" by Jon Stone is a perfect, fun little story that taught me the joys of suspense and patience, as my mother used to gleefully take her time turning the pages, while I wiggled with joyous excitement until the last page which, of course (***spoiler alert!***), revealed that the monster was none other than cute, lovable Grover! Having your first kid is a nerve-wracking and exciting time, but it's also a wonderful time to revisit some of your own fond memories of childhood. Not surprisingly, most of mine involved books. So, indulge me if you will while I wax nostalgic in the next couple months until the birth of my little girl, as I will probably be posting several reviews of some of my favorite children's book classics.
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