"Monster Boogie" - a bookwrap

Featuring a new picture book based on her beloved song! 

"The queen of children's music" - People magazine

Unwrapping

"MONSTER BOOGIE"

by Laurie Berkner

 illustrated by Ben Clanton

* Age Range: 4-8

* Grade Level: PS-3

* Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

* Pub. Date: July 24, 2018

* Language: English

Unwrapping some fun illustrations for you 

Praise for the book

• "With the creak of a door, a big purple monster makes its entrance and derails a perfectly good bedtime.... But instead of gobbling them up, it turns on the radio, brings on the brightness, and proceeds to entertain.... The story is written in rhythmic verse so it is impossible to read without singing…of course, you could, but what would be the fun of that? This book is clearly designed for singing, dancing, and messy crafting. It's the best and most convivial way to experience it."
  
  
  – Kirkus Reviews, April 2018

• "Like a cheery preschool version of the Halloween classic “Monster Mash,” children’s music star Berkner’s snappy tune-turned-picture-book features not-so-scary monsters cutting a rug. When “the biggest monster that you’ve ever seen!” shows up in two sleeping kids’ bedroom, one sibling is all smiles, while the other keeps a wide-eyed distance as their purple-eyed visitor clicks on the boom box and confesses he likes to “do the monster boogie... round the room!... So can you!” By the time the monster breaks into a second round—“monster wiggle” moves—both kids are joyfully bebopping with their unexpected guest and a few of his monstrous friends. Clanton (the Narwhal and Jelly series) opens the action in an inky dark bedroom, then creates a true party atmosphere with a popping fresh palette. Thick black outlines delineate his figures, who are further distinguished by their big, bright eyes—with some characters sporting more than two. This romp offers sunny before-bed silliness and may also just help allay nighttime monster fears."
  
  
  
  – Publishers Weekly

• "This is an energetic adaptation of a song by Berkner. The story line is simple—a monster shows up in a child’s room at night but instead of being scary, he wants to dance... Clanton’s artwork is vividly colored and is so exuberant, the monster seems to come right off the page. Kids will identify with the feeling of being scared by monsters and hopefully transfer the confidence of being able to dance with them rather than being afraid. Adults would do well to search for videos of Berkner performing her song, which will help with appreciating its cadence and rhythm. This book would make an enjoyable storytime selection with extensions that could include singing the song and making crafts. V­ERDICT: A fun read-aloud choice for libraries with preschool populations."
  
  
  – School Library Journal

My take

This is a book that kids will really get into.  Who doesn't love to dance and wiggle and bust a move? It's the perfect bedtime choice as it invites kids to get up and party-hearty letting go of all their daily woes and working them into an exhausted I-need-my-bed-now sleep.

"The biggest monster that you've ever seen!" appears in a bedroom housing two siblings.  One is happy and amazed at his company while the other is a little shy and intimated that he's there.  The whole atmosphere changes when the purple-eyed, green-teethed monster turns on the boombox and invites the kids to "do the monster boogie with him around the room!  He's not scary!  He's funky! 

When the kids finally realize there is nothing to fear they accept his invitation and the dance party begins.  The dancing, wiggling and fun that transpires is euphoric to all. 

What a lively and fun book for kids to experience. Kids can boogie away those bedtime fears and let their inner monster out for a good old-fashioned hoe-down.  Award-winning and bestselling children's music star Laurie Berkner's irresistibly fun song, "Monster Boogie," is now a groovy and adorable picture book. Laurie pairs the lyrics of the infectious hit with Ben Clanton's monstrously playful illustrations.  Music for the "Monster Boogie" song is included on the inside back cover.  The book is definitely an invitation to kids (and adults) to get up and get your groove on.   

  Storywraps Rating -  5 HUGS!!!!!

In her own words

Says Laurie, "When we're kids, monsters are scary things.  But well all have feelings inside of ourselves that are kind of monstrous.  We all went to be loud sometimes (even just to be heard), or get caught up in our big, angry feelings.  I wrote the words to this song (that have now been so wonderfully illustrated by Ben Clanton) so that kids could have the opportunity to 'BE the monster' and enjoy it, even revel in it, in a safe way, and still feel loved." 

About Laurie

Recognized as “the queen of children’s music” (People), Laurie Berkner is a singer, songwriter, lyricist, author, and founder of Two Tomatoes Records. She has released twelve bestselling, award-winning albums, was the first recording artist ever to perform in music videos on Nick Jr., and appeared regularly on the network’s Jack’s Big Music Show. Laurie helped develop the short-form animated series, Sing It, Laurie!, on the twenty-four-hour preschool television channel Sprout, and has written music and lyrics for three Off-Broadway children’s musicals. A project close to her heart has been designing the curriculum and training teachers for Laurie Berkner’s The Music in Me, an early childhood music program based on her music and classroom philosophy. Learn more at LaurieBerkner.com.

Meet Ben Clanton

   

 Ben Clanton is an author and illustrator whose books include It Came in the Mail, Something Extraordinary, Rex Wrecks It!, Mo’s Mustache, The Table Sets Itself, Vote for Me!, and Rot, the Cutest in the World. He lives with his wife and son in Seattle, Washington. Learn more at BenClanton.com.

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