book data
409 ratings,
4.24
average rating, 52 reviews
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published
May 1st 1992
(first published 1968)
by Puffin
binding
Paperback, 32 pages
isbn
0140547126
(isbn13: 9780140547122)
description
Childhood fear of the dark and the resulting exercise in imaginative exaggeration are given that special Mercer Mayer treatment in this dryly humorous...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 471)
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5 stars (186)
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4 stars (144)
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3 stars (71)
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2 stars (6)
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1 star (2)
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avg 4.24
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in January, 1983
This was one of my favorite books as a child. I don't know how many times I must've read "There's a Monster in My Closet." I forgot all about it until last month when I went to the University of Washington's library collection of children's literature and saw it there. Flipping through the pages, pictures I haven't seen in over twenty years, it was as if time hadn't progressed and I was still a little kid reading my favorite book. Yay!
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Read in April, 1982
recommends it for:
my nephew, who is three years old
Oh! to be four years old again!
This is the story of a little boy who just knows he has a monster in his closet. The monster is a Nightmare, and when the little boy has had enough, he wages war with him, donning his soldier hat and a cork pop gun for protection. When he turns out the light, he is prepared for battle, but when he turns on the light to find the Nightmare sitting at the foot of his bed, something unexpected happens. Instead of running away when he's shot with the cork...more
This is the story of a little boy who just knows he has a monster in his closet. The monster is a Nightmare, and when the little boy has had enough, he wages war with him, donning his soldier hat and a cork pop gun for protection. When he turns out the light, he is prepared for battle, but when he turns on the light to find the Nightmare sitting at the foot of his bed, something unexpected happens. Instead of running away when he's shot with the cork...more
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Read in August, 2007
"Go away nightmare or I'll shoot you!"
"I shot him anyway..."
Love it. Read it and be five again, if only for a brief moment.
"I shot him anyway..."
Love it. Read it and be five again, if only for a brief moment.
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Read in February, 2009
OK, I'll admit it. I think what made me like the book so much was the toy cannon. So cute and tiny next to this boy ready to wage war on the nightmare. Something tells me this is another book I read somewhere in the past. But as I could not remember it thoroughly, it was like reading it for the first time. And I enjoyed it. Not oo much text. Pictures that aren't too scary, considering it's talking about a nightmare. And I liked the twist in the ending, too. Definitely one I can see kids enjoying...more
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I'm breaking my no-kids books rule, because I have been reading this book to my 23 month old every single day, 10 times a day, for at least a week. We love Mercer Mayer and his monster books. This one a boy is scared of the nightmare in his closet, but decides to just face it and ends up not being scared. Eleanor loves to stop, gasp and say "Nightmare, Mommy! In closet!". And I remember her big sister loved it too.
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This book is about a little boy that thinks there is a monster in his closet. He decides to face his fears one night and tries to protect himself with his pop gun. He also finds out something unusual about this closet monster. This book is really short and easy reading for anyone that is just starting to read or has a fear of things in their closets!
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Jen by:
Tattered Coverrecommends it for: 2-8 year olds
This classic tries to get kids to realize that if they face their fears, they'll learn there wasn't anything to worry about. A little boy has a monster, a.k.a. nightmare, living in his closet. He decides to get rid of it, and scares the nightmare so badly that it won't stop crying. So he tucks it in his bed and they become friends (with a funny joke at the end).
I've read this to a lot of children, and nine times out of ten they LOVE it and I have to read it repeatedly. But occasional...more
I've read this to a lot of children, and nine times out of ten they LOVE it and I have to read it repeatedly. But occasional...more
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This book was great. The illustrations are consistent with Mayer's books, wonderful! This can be used for younger grades when there may be students who struggle with being afraid. This can be used during October to spark stories about fears and scary things.
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Emily used to call this the Daddy book because she thought one of the "nightmares" at the end of the book looked like Daddy. We used to read this ALL THE TIME when she was about 1 years old. She would finish every sentence for me.
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Read in June, 2009
This was one of my favorite Mercer Mayer books when I taught school, so I enjoyed rereading it today. The little boy's bravery (and costume!) in conquering the nightmare in his closet is very cute, and the illustrations are charming.
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Read in February, 2009
I remember this one from when I was little. I think I liked it then, and I like it now. It’s short and direct and satisfying. The gun, even though it’s a cork gun, is kind of shocking to see in a picture book now.
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Read in June, 2008
This is an adorable story about a little boy who conquers his fears of the dark and the monster (nightmare) in his closet. When the nightmare comes out of the closet, he confronts him and he begins to cry. Then the two become friends.
I think a lot of kids could relate to this book because of the boy's fear of the dark. It might help to reassure the kids and help them realize that they too can conquer their fears. I also liked that it is a pretty funny story that would entertain childr...more
I think a lot of kids could relate to this book because of the boy's fear of the dark. It might help to reassure the kids and help them realize that they too can conquer their fears. I also liked that it is a pretty funny story that would entertain childr...more
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I teach this book when I teach my students the levels of questioning...and you'd be surprised about the LARGE questions I get about nightmares students had as children (and into today). :)
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Read in December, 2008
great book. maybe paired with Where the Wild Things Are and Bedtime in the Swamp...a very cool nighttime/monster THEME THEME THEME. (are you reading this Z!?!!?)
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Another FAVORITE! Mercer Mayer is classic! Some of my kids are SO ENGAGED with this book. It really comes to life for them!
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I loved this book. It teaches children to face their fears. A lot of times, fears all come from their imagination.
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Mercer Mayer's classic book is great for children confronting their bedtime fears and fears of the dark.
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Read in March, 1983
Alyson don't read this book it is very scary. You won't be able to sleep at night. What's in your closet?
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Read in December, 2008
This is a charming book, perfect a 3 year old.
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