287th out of 24,599 books
—
93,855 voters
The Monster at the End of this Book (Sesame Street)
Many adults name this book as their favorite Little Golden Book. Generations of kids have interacted with lovable, furry old Grover as he begs the reader not to turn the page—for fear of a monster at the end of the book. “Oh, I am so embarrassed,” he says on the last page . . . for, of course, the monster is Grover himself!
This all-time favorite is now available as a Big...more
This all-time favorite is now available as a Big...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
May 11th 2004
by Golden Books
(first published 1971)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
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...more
‘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...more
This book was a childhood favorite of mine, and I suspect that my love of metafiction stems from this book. However, as an adult I find this book to be slightly sadistic. Grover BEGS you to not turn the page in order to keep from reaching the monster that will be found on the final page ((view spoiler)), building brick walls and such to thwart your progress. However, the fun is laughing at Grover as you ignore his ple...more
(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...more
Funny, as I think about it now, I wonder why I've...more
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 -...more
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 -...more
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...more
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...more
I can remember reading this book with my mother as a young child. I remember reading this book to my much younger brother when he was a young child (There's 13 years between us). Now I'm reading it to my own daughter.
Out of all things Sesame Street, books, sketches, songs, movies... this is one of my absolute favourites. Every page of this book is amazing. I love Grover addressing the reader, like he so often does on the show. I love the piles of debris visible through the tears of the pages' co...more
Out of all things Sesame Street, books, sketches, songs, movies... this is one of my absolute favourites. Every page of this book is amazing. I love Grover addressing the reader, like he so often does on the show. I love the piles of debris visible through the tears of the pages' co...more
Jan 30, 2008
Mike
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone with little ones
Shelves:
kids
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.
This book was a delightful read from start to finish. The best part is, my children love it too and want me to read it all the time. I recently gave them all their own copy for Christmas. Furry old Grover is afraid of the monster at the end of the book and will do anything to get you stop turning pages. I don't want to spoil the end so that is all I'm going to say.
This is absolutely my favorite book of all time. I really can't remember when I first read it so I just guessed. I have always loved Grover as long as I can remember. It is such a clever and fun book, and while it does kind of play on kids' little rebellious streaks (turning the pages when Grover is trying everything in his power to get the reader not to), it also incites kids to keep reading all the way to the end, to finish what you start, to foster a healthy sense of curiosity, and even to no...more
If your looking for a good bedtime story this is a MUST have. I can imagine that any child would thoroughly enjoy this book as there are many laughs with cheeky Elmo constantly tricking grover. This isn't a book for adults unless you enjoyed sesame street when you were younger, it does get a tad bit repetitive but I don't think any child is going to mind that.
When I was younger I used to love this book because of the funny characters. Now I should probably say what this book is about, well the...more
When I was younger I used to love this book because of the funny characters. Now I should probably say what this book is about, well the...more
LOVE IT! Another great kid's book. I can't even BEG my son into putting it down. If you need a hilarious book that will get your 3- to 7-year-old more interested in reading, Grover's got it made-to-order, as usual. You can find this book online for just a few bucks, and it might be the one that opens up the world for your little one. I still maintain that any kid who doesn't love to read just hasn't met the right book yet.
(Man, I miss those skits of Grover as a waiter... They always made MY life...more
(Man, I miss those skits of Grover as a waiter... They always made MY life...more
I obtained this book via a Mc Donald's Happy Meal!
It totally changed my life.
Before reading this book, I was only in the story of a book living the lives of the characters and always hoping for more, and this book showed me the "more" I was looking for. It showed me reader participation! It were as the book was in a different dimension and I entered into it through some portal where as other books were limited on the depth of story interaction allowed.
As a young person reading this book, I coul...more
It totally changed my life.
Before reading this book, I was only in the story of a book living the lives of the characters and always hoping for more, and this book showed me the "more" I was looking for. It showed me reader participation! It were as the book was in a different dimension and I entered into it through some portal where as other books were limited on the depth of story interaction allowed.
As a young person reading this book, I coul...more
Confession: I've always hated Grover. I can't say why, but to be fair, I've never been a huge fan of the residents of Sesame Street (Snuffleupagus and Oscar the Grouch obviously don't count). Maybe it's because Grover was always trying a little bit too hard, or maybe he was trying to be a little bit too cute. I don't know. I just never liked him, and I haven't bothered trying to change that fact because I'm quite content with how things are in that department, thank you.
All of that said, I love...more
All of that said, I love...more
"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...more
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...more
Normally I steer clear of books about TV characters because of their low story quality. This story, however, is a hilarious page-by-page running joke, in which Grover, after reading the title, begs the reader not to turn the pages because he is afraid of meeting the monster. He erects barriers to page-turning which are destroyed as pages are turned, and when the last page is turned he discovers that he is the monster referred to in the title.
The humor turns on the fact that the author draws att...more
The humor turns on the fact that the author draws att...more
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...more
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...more
When I first had the idea for writing a review about this book, I wondered if I would even be able to make it beyond a few sentences. I mean, writing a review for a silly children's story isn't exactly groundbreaking material.
However, just because it's a kid's book doesn't mean I can't share it with you, does it?
My Synopsis
The Monster at the End of this Book let's us communicate with the Sesame Street friend, Grover, as he struggles with overcoming his fear of Monsters. Having read the title pa...more
However, just because it's a kid's book doesn't mean I can't share it with you, does it?
My Synopsis
The Monster at the End of this Book let's us communicate with the Sesame Street friend, Grover, as he struggles with overcoming his fear of Monsters. Having read the title pa...more
I remember this book well.
I remember Grover's initial shock at the discovery that there is, indeed, a monster lurking at the end of the book in my hands.
I remember the whispered entreaty to please, please not turn the page - adorable, fuzzy Grover does not want to see the monster!
I remember the increasingly desperate attempts Grover makes to stop me from turning the pages: tying the book together with rope, building brick walls between pages, nailing the book shut, each one rendered perfectly wi...more
I remember Grover's initial shock at the discovery that there is, indeed, a monster lurking at the end of the book in my hands.
I remember the whispered entreaty to please, please not turn the page - adorable, fuzzy Grover does not want to see the monster!
I remember the increasingly desperate attempts Grover makes to stop me from turning the pages: tying the book together with rope, building brick walls between pages, nailing the book shut, each one rendered perfectly wi...more
Jun 05, 2009
Shanna Gonzalez
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-04-08
Normally I steer clear of books about TV characters because of their low story quality. This story, however, is a hilarious page-by-page running joke, in which Grover, after reading the title, begs the reader not to turn the pages because he is afraid of meeting the monster. He erects barriers to page-turning which are destroyed as pages are turned, and when the last page is turned he discovers that he is the monster referred to in the title.
The humor turns on the fact that the author draws atte...more
The humor turns on the fact that the author draws atte...more
PB11: I have such great memories of this book. I did not personally own it, but my grandma owned it and every time I went to her house I would run to her book closet and pick out this book and snuggle up in her chair with her and she would read me this book. She was very enthusiastic about reading so I was always very engrossed while she read to me. The illustrations are amazing as Grover tries to stop you from turning the page. Even though I knew what actually did happen at the end of the page...more
This is one of my husband's favorite books from childhood, so he had to pick up a copy for our daughter's personal collection. I was never a big Grover fan. Not that I had anything against the blue fur ball, I was just more into the Fraggles than the Muppets when I was younger. My daughter loves the Sesame Street gang, and I'm always up for a new book, so I had no problem adding this one to our bedtime book list.
I laughed out loud. It was just so silly, so panic!!!!! ridden, and so - well - Gro...more
I laughed out loud. It was just so silly, so panic!!!!! ridden, and so - well - Gro...more
This book is perfect for your 2-4 year old. It gives your child permission to disobey important instructions from cute, loveable Grover (who could whoop Elmo in a Sesame street fight).
The book grabs your attention from the very first line, with Grover teasing your child's curiosity about a potential monster at the end of the book, all the while begging your child NOT to turn the page. And yet we encourage the child to do it anyway.
This "cute-for-now" moment will be stored in your child's memor...more
The book grabs your attention from the very first line, with Grover teasing your child's curiosity about a potential monster at the end of the book, all the while begging your child NOT to turn the page. And yet we encourage the child to do it anyway.
This "cute-for-now" moment will be stored in your child's memor...more
This is seriously the best book ever made! I loved it as a child, and still get excited as I read it (aloud of course!) It was the first book I ever bought for my younger cousins, and they loved having me read it to them. My friends in Argentina also got a kick out of having me read it to them, even though it was in English... my excitement was enough to make it worth while! A definite must have for anyone's library. I'm just glad I saved my self a golden book hardcover version, since I see that...more
I was searching for a different book and saw this one. Imagine the song 'Memories' playing in the background as you read this review...
I absolutely loved this book when I was little because Grover was talking to me! The way they used the pages of the book to create a hiding place for the "monster" at the end made it fun for me to read then and again as my boys were growing up.
I absolutely loved this book when I was little because Grover was talking to me! The way they used the pages of the book to create a hiding place for the "monster" at the end made it fun for me to read then and again as my boys were growing up.
ok so I have a slight Little Golden Book addiction. I love looking high and low for vintage ones.
Of course my favs being, Baby Dear, Little Mommy and So Big. I searched long for these books. I seriously could talk about Golden Books for hours. Eloise Wilkin, was such a prolific illustrator and for me the best. I adore her books.
The first Little Golden Book was first published in 1942 and sold for just 25 cents. The Poky Little Puppy has sold the most copies.
I seriously could write a book on Li...more
Of course my favs being, Baby Dear, Little Mommy and So Big. I searched long for these books. I seriously could talk about Golden Books for hours. Eloise Wilkin, was such a prolific illustrator and for me the best. I adore her books.
The first Little Golden Book was first published in 1942 and sold for just 25 cents. The Poky Little Puppy has sold the most copies.
I seriously could write a book on Li...more
PB#1: I thought this book was a GREAT children's book and can be used to demonstrate multiple lessons. First, since younger kids have trouble with attention spans and tend to have difficulty paying attention for periods of time, this book has the cure. Young children (elementary age or even pre-k) will be interested and on the tip of their toes waiting page-by-page to find out who the monster is going to be. Since there are colorful pictures to help illustrate the story and help with the mental...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Stone 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 au...more
More about Jon Stone...
Share This Book
4 trivia questions
More quizzes & trivia...
“I told you and told you there was nothing to be afraid of.”
—
9 people liked it
More quotes…

Loading...










view all 16 comments



























