Frank N. Stein and the Great Green Garbage Monster

by Ann Jungman

When Frank's classmates notice that his name in the register reads Frank N. Stein they insist that he build a monster. The boys make a creature out of rubbish but then a flash of lightning brings the monster alive. However, when they discover that all the monster wants to do is eat rubbish, they quickly realise how useful he will be.

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2008

About the author

Ann Jungman was born in London, of German Jewish refugees. She grew up in North London, had a very ordinary childhood and there were certainly no signs of interest in, or particular ability at, writing. After studying law at Exeter University, she read for the Bar at Gray’s Inn. To get some money while studying Ann did some supply teaching. This seemed much more fun and challenging than law, so she decided to train to become a primary school teacher. She says the best bit about this was reading books to children.

Ann began to invent her own stories; the children liked them and she was encouraged enough to write them down. After some years she got one published, ‘Fang the Fiery Dragon’. When a friend invited her to go on a weeks holiday to Romania she found herself in Vampire Land - Transylvania - and there ‘Vlad the Drac’ was born. Vlad has been a huge success and in all six books have been written, translated into many languages, and broadcast on radio and television.

Ann has also written about wolves, witches, trolls, dragons and Frank N Stein’s Monster. “Monsters are fun!” she says, “You can do what you like with them, reality doesn’t have to be taken into account. Anyway, all my monsters turn out to be nice really.” Ann’s books range from picture books to full length novels and cover an age range of three to thirteen. Recent books include the much praised ‘The Most Magnificent Mosque’, and a trilogy about World War II, ‘Resistance’, ‘Betrayal’ and ‘Siege’. Ann is currently writing a novel about the Australian Gold Rush, as well as running her publishing company Barn Owl Books. Barn Owl Books is an independent publishing company that re-releases out-of-print children's books, publishing 8 books a year.

Reviews

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of a young boy starting at a new school and being nervous about making friends. He is particularly anxious about being teased for his name as it sounds like Frankenstein. However this actually turns out to be a bonus for him, as the children then want to build a monster like Frankenstein did.
The monster comes to life from a flash of lightening as he did in the original story, and the rest of the book follows Frank and the monster.

I like this book as it touches on various different issues- one that all children experience- that nervous feeling of being new and wanting to make friends in a new situation; it also touches on environmental issues; waste and recycling. The monster only likes to eat rubbish, and the government then use the monster as an asset to help with their waste disposal problem. Towards the end of the book the monster is kidnapped and force-fed nuclear waste- the book highlights just how dangerous nuclear waste can be and that it needs to be disposed of properly.

The illustrations compliment the story well, still leaving room for the child’s imagination, building up a picture of how this garbage monster would look. The book would be suitable for children around 7 or 8. This book could be used at a higher level to discuss with children some of these issues- asking them to think of ways to dispose of waste and ways in which we can reduce it.
It could also be used to get them to think about emotions- those of starting a new school, the worry of making new friends, and then also the bond with friends when the monster is kidnapped.