The Lonely Beast: 10th Anniversary Edition

by Chris Judge

Have you heard of the Beasts? No, not many have. That’s because they are very rare. This is the tale of one such Beast, who decides to take a dangerous quest to find others like him. Trekking over mountains and swimming across seas, he comes at last to a great city. There he finds many delights but sadly no Beasts, so he returns home, where a surprise awaits him.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Monsters, Adventure, Friendship, Emotion, Animals

32 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2011

About the author

Chris Judge is the author-illustrator of The Lonely Beast, The Brave Beast, and The Snow Beast and the illustrator of the Danger Is Everywhere series by David O’Doherty. Chris Judge lives in Dublin.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did this book with my year ones for five weeks. That's right FIVE weeks.

Before christmas I had never heard of this book before, but I enjoyed doing it, and it lent itself to lots of fun activities.

The Beast is all black with no face. Before even looking at the title, we had a look at the picture of the Beast in the city. When you read the book, you know that he is trying to find friends, but taken out of context it looks more sinister. We had a look at the Beast, describing him, trying to find out what he is like, what he is doing, where he had come from. We did some freeze frames look at how people were portraying their emotions. As the Beast had no face, it was really interesting to find out why they thought what they did.

We did a lot of work on story mapping the story, acting out the different parts and then drawing them. We used our story maps to do new reports and write news papers, which were fantastic!

The book also lent itself to art work. The Beast walks under water, meeting lots of different animals on the way. We pretended to be jelly fish, one of the animals he met, and then created art work based on jelly fish.

As a book by itself, it wasn't one of my favourites, but it lent itself to some great activities and lessons!

For this review, and others like it, see: https://tumblingintowonderlandbooks.w...

[Tredyffrin Children · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rare creature sets out on a journey to find others of his kind.

Five reasons this books is awesome:

1. A very endearing main character (who manages to be expressive even with an almost complete lack of features...)

2. A long and interesting journey.

3. A gentle thread of humor.

4. Really wonderful illustrations. (The underwater scenes are my particular favorites.)

5. A happy ending.

A great read-aloud choice for 4's and 5's.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beasts are very rare...so rare in fact, there is only one in every country. They are very kind, gentle, and quiet. But, one day one of these beasts got very lonely. He decided to find the other beasts. He walked, he swam, he climbed mountains. But, he found civilization instead and a land full of people. After a while, they accepted him...but, lonely he still was. So in reverse, he traveled...only to find a giant surprise waiting for him on the other end.

[Tyler Lutz]

First off, the "Beast" should be ripping those people to shreds. What a shitty monster! He obviously embarrassed the entire Beast community, which is why when he was interviewed and gave the call to all other beasts they showed up at his garden instead of in a public setting. He's going to learn very quickly from his fellow Beasts that he was too soft on the humans. He will be initiated into a killing regime and become the monster he was born to be.

[🌶 peppersocks 🧦 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflections and lessons learned:
“He made up his mind there and then that he would go and find some other Beasts.”

Thanks to the local school this story has a wider back story for us - did the lonely beast travel through our small village at some point on his travels? I hope so… we’d be welcoming but understand the predicament! Not a standard kids story but a lovely circular life story that’s completely child and adult friendly - and some professions should be spelled with capitals!

[Katie Sheldrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used within the year 2 class during placement 1a, this book looks at the arrival of a big black flurry beast to a big city and how he can make friends and feel less lonely. The children were able to consider the feelings of all characters and how the beast may have arrived in the city after his long journey... what's next for the beast only time will tell...

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll use this book for a lesson on theme. I'm a sucker for any book featuring cryptozoological creatures.

[Katie St.Clair · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The Lonely Beast’ is a great book to encourage KS1 children to enjoy books whilst developing their curriculum grammar abilities. Beginning with an engaging question, the story follows a beast who has never seen anyone like him before as there is only one beast in each country. As he begins to feel lonely he decides to go on a journey to find others that he can be friends with. There are many obstacles for him to overcome including mountains, the sea and other animals. When he eventually finds a city, he appears in the news to appeal to other beasts, leading to the whole world discussing his story. However, he still can’t find any other beasts so he makes his journey home. When he arrives home he discovers a surprise party waiting for him full of other beasts who had also been feeling lonely. Combining the key messages of overcoming obstacles and never giving up, the story encourages KS1 grammar with constant noun phrases, lists and use of the past tense. It is also a very simple story line that will help children to follow the plot and create their own similar versions.

[Aqsa Sajid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to read with a group of children. It is about a beast who is determined to find friends because he feels very lonely. He has to face many obstacles during his long journey, but he does not give up. He takes on challenges and succeeds in his mission.

I have seen this book being read in a year 1/2 class during my school placement. I enjoyed observing how this short adventure encouraged curiosity in the classroom. The class teacher discussed various themes around the topic, such as describing the beast, the title of the book and the emotions that followed. Children were asked what made them feel lonely and what they thought loneliness meant. Many activities were also planned around this book during Literacy lessons, such as using freeze frames and grammatical tasks. As a trainee teacher, I delivered a Literacy lesson on adverbial phrases. After a series of English lessons linked to this topic, I think this book was absolutely perfect for improving children's Literacy skills.

The moral of the story is good because it motivates children to never give up. However, I would argue that the story spreads the message that you can only completely overcome loneliness when you are with other people who are just like you. This is not always true because everyone is different and diversity should be promoted instead. Nevertheless, the storyline is interesting and the illustrations go really well with it. I would recommend reading this book in the classroom, as many cross-curricular activities can be planned around it.

[DeA · Rating 4 out of 5]

While most of the picture books I read are for storytimes and for reading to the students visiting the library, I stopped and picked up this book. It is a bit long for a regular storytime, at least for the age I do storytime for which is baby, toddler and preschool. However, I would recommend this for early elementary quickly as it has a simple storytime and is great for practicing empathy. The illustrations are beautiful and add to the story of a beast who is all alone and looking for friends, which everyone needs. Recommend to anyone reading to a single child or to elementary students. Not a bedtime book.

[Eleanor King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the plot is not one of my favourites, I liked the obstacles that the beast had to overcome, the symmetry of the book as he travels from and back to his home, the moral, and of course, the colourful illustrations are a great strength. Moreover, the illustrations portrayed emotion really well which would be interesting to use in PSHE and investigating themes surrounding empathy, perseverance, loneliness, and making friends. This book is a lovely read, but I am only giving it 3 stars since I don’t like the idea that the beast can only make good friends with other beasts, suggesting our friends must be similar to us in some way.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a lonely -- and mythical -- Beast sets out on a quest, he doesn't find what he's seeking. But what does he encounter, once he returns home?

Most children will never have so many people around them as during their preschool years. Yet all that attention and the friendly waves from just about every stranger on the street... may not be enough to keep those young human beings from sometimes feeling lonely.

This story is for them, and it's beautifully told.

FIVE STARS to eloquent author Chris Judge, who's also the highly creative artist for all the illustrations in this book.

[A Severs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when he thinks all his hard work has been in vain he finds out that it has all been worthwhile. I like the message here: we might not always be able to see the fruit (or point) of our labours straight away.

Not sure about the concept that the beast must find other beasts to be friendly with - could the people he met not be his friends? Do we always need friends who are similar to us in some way? Perhaps...

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really do love Chris Judge’s work and I think it runs similar themes throughout each book. For example it often portrays an adventure or a character being lost because of this it is extremely useful to use when looking at verbs in both their present and past form. I could see so much work being done around “The Lonely Beast.”

[Amy Brydon Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely story! The text and illustrations really help portray the theme of loneliness which is so important to talk about with children. There are many cross curricular links that could be explored within the book such as different habitats in science, friendship and loneliness in PSHE and perhaps writing their own adventure stories of searching for something in literacy!

[T.S. Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It was a perfect text for my Y2 class for during the most recent period of lockdown where some were feeling a little lonely, just like the beast. We've got tons of brilliant, meaningful discussions and excellent responses to the text too. It's one that will remain a firm favourite in my teacher toolkit and one I'll enjoy reading with my own children as well.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There once was a beast who had everything he needed, he just was all alone. So he goes out on a quest and encounters lots of interesting thing and finally meets some people.

This beast is not scary and a fun way to show kids a little bit of a journey of the world We laughed. Always a good sign.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is interesting ready someone else's family favorite. There is a lot to like in this one. The idea is pretty good as is the text. The art is mostly just okay but the color is exuberant. And with a nice ending. Beasts apparently don't have to be scary. 3.5 of 5.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beast is very lonely. He meets lots of people, but he is still lonely because he is the only beast. So he puts out advertisement to find other monsters. Will he succeed? I enjoyed the journey to and from his home, especially stepping on the clam both times. Funny story.

[Jc · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazingly funny tale. Definitely one of my favorites so far this year.

[TREVIS C]

A lonely beast gets tired of being lonely, so he sets off to look for other beasts to make friends with.

[Vinicius Tomazinho]

Sou o tradutor deste livro lindo, alegre e repleto de aventuras.

[Kate Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book about friendship and finding where you belong.

[Tiff M · Rating 4 out of 5]

My little ones enjoyed this one a lot, especially the journey the Beast went on to find another beast.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

super sweet, friendship theme

[Alice Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindness and friendship, lonliness

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet story.

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

so cute, I love when he has a little tie on

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely read

[Hana Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book - great for a unit of work with room for inference and exploration