No More Monsters for Me! Book and

by Peggy Parish, Peggy Parish

Read along with your favorite I Can Read Book characters! I Can Read Books are the premier line of beginning readers encouraging children to learn—and love—to read. Featuring award-winning authors and illustrators, I Can Read Books offer a full spectrum of entertaining stories for every stage of a child's reading development. Now the beloved characters and adventures from this popular line of books come to life with I Can Read Book and CDs. Each package includes a best-selling beginning-reader storybook and a lively audio recording featuring: No More Monsters for Me!   is an enjoyable, funny way to address bedtime fears and scared-of-the-dark issues. Guess what's growing in the basement . . . a baby monster! Minneapolis Simpkin is hiding it down there. But a monster is a hard thing to keep secret, especially one that hiccups and cries, and gets bigger every hour. This Level One I Can Read is perfect for kids learning to sound out words and sentences. Written by Peggy Parish, the beloved creator of Amelia Bedelia, and illustrated by Caldecott medalist Marc Simont.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Monsters, Fiction, Fantasy

64 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Peggy Parish was the author of the children's story series Amelia Bedelia. The series was continued, after her sudden death from an aneurysm, by her nephew Herman Parish. Peggy attended the University of South Carolina and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

Herman honored Peggy's life in his book, Good Driving, Amelia Bedelia, by writing in its dedication: "For Peggy Parish, the real Amelia Bedelia."

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Muse Here · Rating 2 out of 5]

My kids thought this was cute and while the premise was interesting and the overall story funny, the part that didn't jive with us was all the yelling. The mother and daughter interact pretty much only with raised voices. In my home we really try not to yell, so this was a good example of how not to treat each other. Also, the mother doesn't listen to her daughter very well, nor does the daughter listen to the mother. Their communication needs a lot of help and it doesn't really improve by the end of the book. It's funny to read at a playful time, since any communication is yelled and that's always fun, and it was good to discuss reasons that made us feel uncomfortable, so it does have it's good points. It's a classic, moral at the end of the story book. Overall, quite disappointing.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

How often do we let little monsters into our lives: small, cute creatures that seem harmless at first, but grow into ugly, dangerous beasts as we feed and shelter them? We're so charmed by the tiny pet initially that we don't see any harm in adopting it, but we fail to foresee how big and unmanageable it will become as we nourish it. The careless decision to bite off more than we can chew has potential to cultivate a man-eating monster under our own roof, a nightmare we'll have a terrible time getting rid of, if we ever can. Young Minneapolis Simpkin falls into just such a trap in No More Monsters for Me! after a heated argument with her mother in which Minn is forbidden to bring home a pet, "Not even a tadpole"! Furious at her mother, Minn runs out into the deepening twilight and discovers a miniature green monster sobbing in the bushes. The creature looks so sad and alone, and it's starting to rain. Minn doesn't care what her mother says, she's bringing this monster home to be her pet.

But the baby beast isn't content to wait quietly in Minn's bedroom while she eats supper with her mother. Minn has to do some quick maneuvering to keep her freakish pet out of her mother's sight, eventually stashing it in the basement with a basket of apples to snack on. Running back and forth between the dinner table and her secret responsibility in the basement, Minn is run ragged by her monster pet. This isn't what she thought she was signing on for when she accepted it into her home. Worse, the creature grows rapidly from the apples Minn fed it. It's a lumpy, unattractive big beast now, bearing little resemblance to the cute monster Minn had mercy on as it wept in the bushes. What is she going to do?

Minn's mother surmises that her daughter has smuggled an animal into the house, but she's taken aback when Minn bursts into tears and admits it's a monster. Softening her hard stance against pets, Minn's mother offers a deal: if Minn gets rid of the "monster", she'll allow her a pet. Evicting the gluttonous hellion from the basement isn't easy, but Minn does the job. She's ready for a real pet now, not a monster that's going to take over her life. And her mother is ready, too.

Author Peggy Parish skillfully conducts this story with warm humor and gentle philosophy, exactly how an easy reader should be. We can learn from the themes of No More Monsters for Me! our entire lives because the book is written simply enough for preschoolers yet has substance to keep much older kids thinking. Marc Simont's illustrations are also key to the narrative, relating parts of the story not directly addressed in the text. I'd give No More Monsters for Me! two and a half stars. It's not as famous as the author's Amelia Bedelia series of easy readers, but it's a quality read I urge book lovers to set aside time and enjoy.

[Stacy Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have such fond memories of this book...I have not read it since I was knee high to a grasshopper, but I do remember when the monster was hidden by the young girl in the cellar and he ate all of the pickles...When she had to let him go (sniff sniff) it was always a tear jerker...I also believe that her name was Minneapolis Simskin...How cool is that?

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the children in my class picked this book to read on her own! It's a transitional book that offers some familiarity and a few challenging words as well.

[Armida D'Angelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book growing up. I remember laying in bed at night and picking it out for my mother to read to me, again, and again, and again. As an adult, this was a book I dug out of our bookshelf at home, and I read it, remembering just why I loved this story as a child. It, to me, as an adult, was about how wanting could grow bigger and bigger and bigger until a mistake is made, and that fixing that mistake could actually get you what you feel you need… like a pet, for Minneapolis Simkin. I feel like this book helped me as much as an adult as it did when I was a kid.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Minneapolis wants is a pet, but mom doesn't want to hear it. Fine! But mom never said anything to her daughter about bringing home a lost monster, now did she? I love these old I Can Read books. I've been collecting them, and I'm always surprised to find another one I've never heard of. No More Monsters for Me! Is written by Peggy Parish (Amelia Bedelia series) and illustrated by Marc Simont (Nate the Great series). Cute story with a funny premise and a happy ending. Highly recommended for story times.

[Jillian Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure this book altered my perceptions as a child. This is still a book in my top 100. I still have my original copy from (I think) 94'-95' that I keep stored away. I will always love this book. Something about keeping monsters just fascinates me to this day. I read this book almost once every year (because of spring cleaning and clearing out boxes regularly) and my love for this book hasn't faded.

[Leslie McWilliams Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book to read to my daughter. "No More Monsters for Me! By Peggy Parish." I remember adding the author's name on the end, just like that, over the 50 or so times I read it to her. What the heck was the girl's name? Minnesota Simpkin or something? Is that the same book? Have to look it up. Minneapolis Simpkin... that's what it was.

[Cameron Lazenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a charming book in many ways, but I gave it the full five because of this metaphor the monster can be. It's pretty cleaver, I mean in one light you could imagine it is certainly real and in another, not so much. But either way, it doesn't really change what the monster represents and that's what's so clever to me.

[Bridgette Elston · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was twice as long as as any other level 1 reader I've ever picked up, contained some difficult language (including names), and was about a mom and daughter who yelled at each other and neither listened to each other. Not a fan of this book at all!

[Rebeca Riffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super cute children's book about a little girl who ask her mother for a pet and her mother said, "NO!" but it just so happens that her mother didn't say she couldn't have a monster for a pet.

[Crimson_Silence]

I remember reading this as a child. I was obsessed with it and decided to do a retreads I am now in my 30. Even though it isn't my favorite book of all time, it was still nice to look back. I will recommend anyone who has a child or children to look into this. Maybe it will be their favorite too.

[Cody Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book until the monster got too big, then I didn't want to look at it anymore, so I listened from over mom's shoulder. I like that there was a mom who said "no pets," since a cat just started hanging out on our porch and my mom said the same thing to me!

[Jc · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great introductory reader for many of the young boys in my reading class.

[Patrick prophete · Rating 5 out of 5]

10000000000000000000000

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really cute. A little girl brings a monster home and discovers that he doesn't make such a great pet.

[osoordinary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aubrey says five stars because, "When I first saw the book I thought it was going to be funny. And the words were really inspiring. I got to understand them real good."

[JS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story! Helping a monster carry your own reward. :D

[Jeannine Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved loved LOVED this book growing up! Published the same year i was born. I took this book everywhere I went!

[Shay Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bet a lot of people remember this fondly from their childhoods. I might have liked it more back then myself. I certainly recommend it if you're interested. Very cute.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a super cute book

[Roberto Galindo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice vintage story, I acted out the characters along the plot and that made reading out loud a lot of fun. Cute vintage drawings also.

[Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5/5

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've probably read No More Monsters for Me! more times than I can remember. When it was first published, 1981, I was the target audience for this book and I know my school had many of the "I Can Read Books" as text books.

Thematically the book is similar to The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer by Jimmy and Amy Carter except funnier and a bit more on point. It's a story about consequences and responsibility.

Minneapolis Simpkin learns first hand why her mother warns her about staying away from the forest where the monsters live. She thinks her mother is joking (and perhaps she is) until she finds a baby monster in the rain. Clearly the creature needs help but her mother has told her not to mess with monsters. Minneapolis decides to break the rule because it was only a baby.

Here's where the book plays up the consequences of rule breaking (and more important secret keeping) to hilarious results. Monsters, and hungry ones especially, grow fast and it gets harder and harder to hide he once baby monster.

Ultimately Minneapolis has to confess to her mother and face the consequences of breaking two rules. The final lesson comes with the mother's reaction: frustration and understanding. The monster gets to go home and Minneapolis learns that she was right in helping the baby monster but wrong in keeping it a secret from her mother.

[Maureen · Rating 1 out of 5]

What is the deal with all of the yelling? Egad! I understand that in some families there is a lot of yelling, but this is normalizing it. Why do they not learn to stop yelling at each other? Nothing is said about it. People yell at each other because they feel like they are not being heard. Nothing is said about that. There could have been a teaching moment about that. Ugh. If that issue had been addressed, this book would have received five stars for ideation. People aren't listening to each other. A problem is growing larger and larger (in the basement and in their relationship). Instead we learn that if we yell and disobey, we can get what we want. This book should not be a level one reader, it's too difficult. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Target missed. So close, yet so far away.

[Mallory Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good, simple level book for beginner readers.

[Catherine Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an early reader about a girl who has a monster in the basement. She doesn't tell her mom and finds it hard to keep the secret, but when she finally spills, her mom doesn't really believe her anyway. Full of suspense and lovely, written in what looks like free verse even though it is from 1981, this little book will delight you.

The illustrations of the monster are so cute, it reminds me a bit of Captain Caveman.

Kids will love to read/listen to the book as everyone dreams of having an imaginary monster in the house (don't they?)

[Allyson L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every child wants a pet. Whether its a simple hamster, a rowdy dog, or a crazy cat. And normally parents say no. Well, in this book, Minn Simpkin asks for a pet and mom says no and she ends up bringing a monster home that she finds in the forest. She tries to keep it a secret, and when she decides to tell her mom, her mom doesnt believe her and just thinks she is making it up. Mother gives in and tell Minn she can get a pet. Although pet monsters are not real, I feel like students can definitely relate to this. I found it highly entertaining and fun for all ages.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book works better for older children reading on their own as opposed to a read-aloud for younger children as the protagonist lies and misleads her mother again and again. This won't be a problem for older children who understand the nuances of lying and how sometimes you just have to lie about the monster you brought home! Monsters are so pervasive in children's lit, and having them be friendly and unharmful is always a treat. The best part of this book is that the main character's name is Minneapolis Simpkin.