What do you think?
Rate this book
Frankenstein Takes the Cake
No one ever said it was easy being a monster. Take Frankenstein, for instance: He just wants to marry his undead bride in peace, but his best man, Dracula, is freaking out about the garlic bread. Then there’s the Headless Horseman, who wishes everyone would stop drooling over his delicious pumpkin head. And can someone please tell Edgar Allan Poe to get the door already before the raven completely loses it? Sheesh.
In a wickedly funny follow-up to the bestselling Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, Adam Rex once again proves that monsters are just like you and me. (Well, sort of.)
In a wickedly funny follow-up to the bestselling Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, Adam Rex once again proves that monsters are just like you and me. (Well, sort of.)
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2008
7 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
About the author
Adam Rex
92 books779 followersAdam Rex grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, the middle of three children. He was neither the smart one (older brother) or the cute one (younger sister), but he was the one who could draw. He took a lot of art classes as a kid, trying to learn to draw better, and started painting when he was 11. And later in life he was drawn down to Tucson in order to hone his skills, get a BFA from the University of Arizona, and meet his physicist wife Marie (who is both the smart and cute one).
Adam is nearsighted, bad at all sports, learning to play the theremin, and usually in need of a shave. He can carry a tune, if you don't mind the tune getting dropped and stepped on occasionally. He never remembers anyone's name until he's heard it at least three times. He likes animals, spacemen, Mexican food, Ethiopian food, monsters, puppets, comic books, 19th century art, skeletons, bugs, and robots.
Garlic and crosses are useless against Adam. Sunlight has been shown to be at least moderately effective. A silver bullet does the trick. Pretty much any bullet, really.
Adam is nearsighted, bad at all sports, learning to play the theremin, and usually in need of a shave. He can carry a tune, if you don't mind the tune getting dropped and stepped on occasionally. He never remembers anyone's name until he's heard it at least three times. He likes animals, spacemen, Mexican food, Ethiopian food, monsters, puppets, comic books, 19th century art, skeletons, bugs, and robots.
Garlic and crosses are useless against Adam. Sunlight has been shown to be at least moderately effective. A silver bullet does the trick. Pretty much any bullet, really.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
March 10, 2017
My 11-year-old brought this home from the library, drawn to it as it is written by his current FAVORITE AUTHOR EVER, Adam Rex. The plan was that he would read it aloud to me and his 8-year-old brother. The result was not expected: 11-year-old loved the humor, got most of the jokes, appreciated the satire, but frequently bound himself up in grammatical misreadings and inattention to requisite punctuation. We learned that reading poetry aloud, even guffaw-causing casual rhyme, is not the same thing as reading prose aloud. I found myself frequently reading over his shoulder to clarify missed meanings caused by run-on sentences and overlooked wordplay. Meanwhile, my 8-year-old was zoned out and bored, the humor so out of bounds from his own experience, and locked out by rather sophisticated grammar gymnastics. Spoofs of Edgar Allen Poe are a hard pass for 8-year-olds reading Silverstein. Really, I think I enjoyed this one more than they -- I felt almost guilty snickering at such things as the Melting Witch Diet -- what, what's so funny? Once I explained the advertising writing style, the mail-order con, the literary allusion to witches and Oz, well, admittedly, it just wasn't funny anymore. E-mails from Martians extolling performance-enhancing drugs? Not part of a kid's world. So beware, this is sophisticated humor for experienced readers, camouflaged in a goofy picture book format.
July 2, 2008
I like cake. I like Frankenstein. Ipso facto: I like Frankenstein Takes the Cake. Oh fine. Maybe it’s a little more complicated than that. Maybe I like other things about the book too. Perhaps the art. Maybe the characters. And there’s always the off chance that what I really like about is that it’s a picture book/poetry sequel that takes cool monsters and makes them loveable. Rex’s first Frankenbook, Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich was an odd little puppy. Poems about monsters, a weird variety of artistic styles, and quickfire punches of humor along the way. Rex probably could have copied the format of his first book poem for poem and nobody would have blinked an eye. Takes the Cake goes in a slightly different direction, however. Sure we have a lot of similarities (the black and white Edgar Allan Poe bits replace the Phantom of the Opera glimpses, for example) but for the first time Rex has added a bit of a plot to his story as well. Now you end up with a story, illustrations that pop the old eyeballs, and humor. Not, oh-gee-isn’t-that-droll humor, but stuff that kids and adults will find positively hilarious. And yes, there’s an obligatory poop joke too.
Well, it’s just about time for The Bride of Frankenstein to get married, and you know what that means? Letting her parents know that she is A) Alive again and B) Marrying a fellow who’s green. Meanwhile there are catering questions to take into account (some advice... do NOT offer vampires “steak” or a werewolf silverware). There’s a flower girl to freak out (not hard). And there’s a buffet line with some delicious and unfortunate (for Dracula) garlic bread on the menu. Other poems in the book discuss varied topics as the Headless Horseman’s dilapidated head, the dangers of answering your door the day after Halloween, and alien spam. It all ties together by the end, until you’re left with a cranky raven badgering you to finish the book. An oddly pleasant experience.
I’m just gonna stop myself right here and tell you why Rex deserves some attention for this book. I can already see some of you out there thinking, “Ah. More of the same.” Fair enough. But what if I told you that in this title Rex has expanded his range of visual styles? Then publication page isn’t much help in listing them since all its says is, “The illustrations in this book were done in pencil, charcoal, oils, and, in many cases, in Photoshop with a Wacom tablet. And probably some other things.” Grrr. Well let’s count ‘em down anyway. You’ve got some comic book inspired panels and speech bubbles with a flat cartoonish style to match. There are the lush oil paintings that are what the people pay their money to see. There are basic pen-and-ink sketches, of course. There’s photography, which is new (and somebody had to design the Headless Horseman’s rapidly decomposing head). There’s a fellow straight out of an Egyptian painting, gorgeous Japanese inspired inked images, some graphite (I think), and a comic strip that is perhaps the best paean to Charles Schultz I’ve seen in a long time. There’s also a candy colored computer created sequence of panels unlike anything else in the book.
One of the advantages of having a versatile artist like Mr. Rex take a book like this in hand is that you can sometimes see the same character rendered in a variety of different styles. Frankenstein and the Headless Horseman are good examples of this (though Dracula gets the serious face time here that he lacked in the last title). Old favorite characters from the first book that didn’t end up with their own poems appear in the group scenes during the wedding. They also are mentioned in the list of Poems That Do Not Appear In This Volume, which struck me as both a joke and (in at least a couple cases) probably actual rejected or cut poems.
Plus you get the old attention to detail. When we see little Medusa in school, I for one really appreciated the stained drop ceiling in the classroom. Smacked of realism, it did. I liked how the poem “No One Comes to Skull Island Anymore” tried to replicate ye olde postcards circa 1955. And the advertising section (which somehow manages to rhyme the entire time) is worth the price of admission alone. Tofu gets its due.
If there is something to criticize about the book, it would have to be the poems themselves. Now now! Down! I still like the poems. Nobody’s saying they aren’t fun. But I’m a fan of precise rhymes and lines that scan perfectly. For the most part, Rex’s poetry does this too. It may take two or three read alouds to truly understand what he’s trying to accomplish, but mostly it works. Lines like “But the poem Poe composes poses problems, ‘cause he knows his / line on roses being roses has been written once before.” It works, but you have to work on it. It isn’t necessarily that these poems don’t scan. They go through, but only after a little tugging and pulling on the readers’ part. It would be nice if they flowed sure and smooth, but that doesn't always happen. Rex’s dialogue-turned poetry may be a bit clunky and hard to read, but his haikus practically redefine the genre. If you aren’t swayed by the book’s backflap “A Haiku about Adam Rex” which reads, “He knows Frankenstein’s / the doctor, not the monster. / Enough already,” then try his Kaiju Haiku section. There you will find oddly lovely pen and inks done with just a hint of red. One that I was particularly fond of featured red blossoms, falling upon the barren earth. It’s only when you refocus your eyes that you realize that you’re looking at a scene of devastation, as Godzilla tramples Tokyo. It is accompanied by the poem “An autumn rampage / the sound of leaves and soldiers / crunching underfoot.” Good work.
The real reason to buy the book? Where else are you going to encounter the line “Quoth the raven: ‘Tipper Gore’”? When I reviewed the first Frankenstein book, I pouted over Rex’s overt use of random celebrities and pop culture. That’s been scaled back a fair amount in this title, but not so much that he hasn’t allowed himself to be silly in that way once in a while. No other author would ever think to combine the term “peep” with Edgar Allan Poe. And the Headless Horseman’s blog? Maybe I’m biased, but I thought it was just swell.
I was talking with a colleague about the first Frankenstein book the other day, and she happened to mention that the problem with the book is that libraries like to shelve it in the poetry section and not with the picture books. She worried that kids would miss it entirely if it were relegated so far far away. I understand her point, but judicious hand-selling (to say nothing of Poetry Month recommendations) mean that our copies certainly circulate as much and as often as I can make them. The case will be the same for its sequel as well. By going in a new direction and pulling out artistic genres and styles hitherto unthought of, Take the Cake does its predecessor proud. Gross, cool, weird, and fun. Everything, in fact, that kids look for in a book.
Ages 5-12.
Well, it’s just about time for The Bride of Frankenstein to get married, and you know what that means? Letting her parents know that she is A) Alive again and B) Marrying a fellow who’s green. Meanwhile there are catering questions to take into account (some advice... do NOT offer vampires “steak” or a werewolf silverware). There’s a flower girl to freak out (not hard). And there’s a buffet line with some delicious and unfortunate (for Dracula) garlic bread on the menu. Other poems in the book discuss varied topics as the Headless Horseman’s dilapidated head, the dangers of answering your door the day after Halloween, and alien spam. It all ties together by the end, until you’re left with a cranky raven badgering you to finish the book. An oddly pleasant experience.
I’m just gonna stop myself right here and tell you why Rex deserves some attention for this book. I can already see some of you out there thinking, “Ah. More of the same.” Fair enough. But what if I told you that in this title Rex has expanded his range of visual styles? Then publication page isn’t much help in listing them since all its says is, “The illustrations in this book were done in pencil, charcoal, oils, and, in many cases, in Photoshop with a Wacom tablet. And probably some other things.” Grrr. Well let’s count ‘em down anyway. You’ve got some comic book inspired panels and speech bubbles with a flat cartoonish style to match. There are the lush oil paintings that are what the people pay their money to see. There are basic pen-and-ink sketches, of course. There’s photography, which is new (and somebody had to design the Headless Horseman’s rapidly decomposing head). There’s a fellow straight out of an Egyptian painting, gorgeous Japanese inspired inked images, some graphite (I think), and a comic strip that is perhaps the best paean to Charles Schultz I’ve seen in a long time. There’s also a candy colored computer created sequence of panels unlike anything else in the book.
One of the advantages of having a versatile artist like Mr. Rex take a book like this in hand is that you can sometimes see the same character rendered in a variety of different styles. Frankenstein and the Headless Horseman are good examples of this (though Dracula gets the serious face time here that he lacked in the last title). Old favorite characters from the first book that didn’t end up with their own poems appear in the group scenes during the wedding. They also are mentioned in the list of Poems That Do Not Appear In This Volume, which struck me as both a joke and (in at least a couple cases) probably actual rejected or cut poems.
Plus you get the old attention to detail. When we see little Medusa in school, I for one really appreciated the stained drop ceiling in the classroom. Smacked of realism, it did. I liked how the poem “No One Comes to Skull Island Anymore” tried to replicate ye olde postcards circa 1955. And the advertising section (which somehow manages to rhyme the entire time) is worth the price of admission alone. Tofu gets its due.
If there is something to criticize about the book, it would have to be the poems themselves. Now now! Down! I still like the poems. Nobody’s saying they aren’t fun. But I’m a fan of precise rhymes and lines that scan perfectly. For the most part, Rex’s poetry does this too. It may take two or three read alouds to truly understand what he’s trying to accomplish, but mostly it works. Lines like “But the poem Poe composes poses problems, ‘cause he knows his / line on roses being roses has been written once before.” It works, but you have to work on it. It isn’t necessarily that these poems don’t scan. They go through, but only after a little tugging and pulling on the readers’ part. It would be nice if they flowed sure and smooth, but that doesn't always happen. Rex’s dialogue-turned poetry may be a bit clunky and hard to read, but his haikus practically redefine the genre. If you aren’t swayed by the book’s backflap “A Haiku about Adam Rex” which reads, “He knows Frankenstein’s / the doctor, not the monster. / Enough already,” then try his Kaiju Haiku section. There you will find oddly lovely pen and inks done with just a hint of red. One that I was particularly fond of featured red blossoms, falling upon the barren earth. It’s only when you refocus your eyes that you realize that you’re looking at a scene of devastation, as Godzilla tramples Tokyo. It is accompanied by the poem “An autumn rampage / the sound of leaves and soldiers / crunching underfoot.” Good work.
The real reason to buy the book? Where else are you going to encounter the line “Quoth the raven: ‘Tipper Gore’”? When I reviewed the first Frankenstein book, I pouted over Rex’s overt use of random celebrities and pop culture. That’s been scaled back a fair amount in this title, but not so much that he hasn’t allowed himself to be silly in that way once in a while. No other author would ever think to combine the term “peep” with Edgar Allan Poe. And the Headless Horseman’s blog? Maybe I’m biased, but I thought it was just swell.
I was talking with a colleague about the first Frankenstein book the other day, and she happened to mention that the problem with the book is that libraries like to shelve it in the poetry section and not with the picture books. She worried that kids would miss it entirely if it were relegated so far far away. I understand her point, but judicious hand-selling (to say nothing of Poetry Month recommendations) mean that our copies certainly circulate as much and as often as I can make them. The case will be the same for its sequel as well. By going in a new direction and pulling out artistic genres and styles hitherto unthought of, Take the Cake does its predecessor proud. Gross, cool, weird, and fun. Everything, in fact, that kids look for in a book.
Ages 5-12.
October 19, 2021
Adam Rex returns in this second collection of monstrous poems, following upon his initial
Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich
, presenting nineteen selections that are brimming over with his trademark brand of sly humor. Formatted in much the same way as the first Frankenstein book, with a number of parallel themes - here we have the Headless Horseman's blog, in which he complains of the people who constantly stare at his pumpkin head, or imitate it; there we have Bigfoot and Yeti, and their pique at being confused with one another; here we have Edgar Allan Poe, and his hilariously poetic flights of fancy (much to the chagrin of a local raven); there we have the Phantom of the Opera, with a tune stuck firmly in his head - Frankenstein Takes the Cake is an amusing foray into the world of some of the world's most famous monsters, and other creepy creatures.
That said, although it is an enjoyable read, and a wonderful selection for the Halloween season, I didn't find Frankenstein Takes the Cake to be quite as appealing as Rex's earlier title, and I've been trying to figure out just why that is. The zany humor is still there (although I didn't giggle aloud with this one, as I did with Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich ), and the artwork is in the same appealingly eclectic mixed media style, with its blend of painted elements, drawings, and photographs. But somehow the result didn't have quite the same magic. I suspect that this is partly owing to the more adult concerns displayed, from the centrality of the wedding (with a focus on the actual planning of the wedding) between Frankenstein and his bride, to the reference to Tipper Gore (which already feels dated). In any case, despite these issues, I would still recommend this one to young readers who enjoyed the first collection, and to anyone looking for suitably monstrous reads for Halloween.
That said, although it is an enjoyable read, and a wonderful selection for the Halloween season, I didn't find Frankenstein Takes the Cake to be quite as appealing as Rex's earlier title, and I've been trying to figure out just why that is. The zany humor is still there (although I didn't giggle aloud with this one, as I did with Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich ), and the artwork is in the same appealingly eclectic mixed media style, with its blend of painted elements, drawings, and photographs. But somehow the result didn't have quite the same magic. I suspect that this is partly owing to the more adult concerns displayed, from the centrality of the wedding (with a focus on the actual planning of the wedding) between Frankenstein and his bride, to the reference to Tipper Gore (which already feels dated). In any case, despite these issues, I would still recommend this one to young readers who enjoyed the first collection, and to anyone looking for suitably monstrous reads for Halloween.
August 31, 2009
Deliciously funny book of monster-related poems, illustrated in a wide range of styles. A perfect Halloween book, but, for us monster lovers, also great any time of year :-)
March 24, 2009
The entire title is: Frankenstein Takes the Cake: which is full of funny stuff like rolling heads and giant gorillas and zombies dressed as little girls and Edgar Allan Poe. The book, we mean - not the cake.
I'm almost tempted to give this one five stars! My ten year old loved this book. It's zany (even though I hate that word) and strange and hilarious and novel. There is just something fresh and new about the way the book is written and illustrated.
The only reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five is that I think the book is hard to market. It's being marketed towards kids, but I think most of the greatness of the book would be over most chidlrens' heads. My ten year old is pretty savvy and witty and artsy, but even she didn't fully appreciate the humor in it. She did, however, appreciate the illustrations. She said it's inspired her in her own art. So kudos, Mr. Adam Rex! Well done!
I'm almost tempted to give this one five stars! My ten year old loved this book. It's zany (even though I hate that word) and strange and hilarious and novel. There is just something fresh and new about the way the book is written and illustrated.
The only reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five is that I think the book is hard to market. It's being marketed towards kids, but I think most of the greatness of the book would be over most chidlrens' heads. My ten year old is pretty savvy and witty and artsy, but even she didn't fully appreciate the humor in it. She did, however, appreciate the illustrations. She said it's inspired her in her own art. So kudos, Mr. Adam Rex! Well done!
November 25, 2008
Just a notch down from his first collection, but still truly funny. Personal favorites: "Off the top of my head: the official blog of the Headless Horseman;" the "Edgar Allan Poems," especially "Edgar Allan Poe should be writing or sleeping, not doing a crossword puzzle" (the answer to 7-down: Tipper Gore); "Dracula Jr. wants a big-boy coffin" (done in the style of a Peanuts comic, with Dracula Jr. as the Charlie Brown character and some pitch-perfect Peanuts mannerisms); and especially the book's centerpiece, "The Frankenstein Wedding Suite" (I especially love "The Bride of Frankenstein wrote her own vows," where she basically talks herself out of marrying him until finally realizing, "let's face it-I'm not getting any less dead." Yep, I'm a big old Adam Rex fanboy.
January 11, 2013
Holy crap. This was almost as hilarious as Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich.
After realizing Adam Rex is quite a prolific artist and writer (and of course reading the aforementioned book) I checked out every Adam Rex book out of the Huntsville, AL library. This being the "sequel", we had to read it first. So worth it! Hilarious poems, and everyone in the family is cracking up.
Can't wait to read his other books.
After realizing Adam Rex is quite a prolific artist and writer (and of course reading the aforementioned book) I checked out every Adam Rex book out of the Huntsville, AL library. This being the "sequel", we had to read it first. So worth it! Hilarious poems, and everyone in the family is cracking up.
Can't wait to read his other books.
October 28, 2012
Shelia nails it with the “fantastically weird collage;” Frankenstein Takes the Cake will appeal and will impress. Rex adopts different styles and media and it is really kind of disgusting how successful he is with each. The creativity is inspiring and inspired to say nothing of entertaining. The opening pages feature a fun interactive comic in which the reader is at first mistaken of identity, and after the confusion is cleared, they get the closer look they need and—I won’t spoil it for you. But it is a brilliant opening because it reminds fans and introduces the new readers to Rex’s excellent sense of humor and comedic timing—which he confirms, just in case, by following the comic with a letter from the author.
A story can be found amidst Headless Horseman’s blog posts, the advertising section, Edgar Allen Poe and his increasingly frustrated Raven, a Peanuts inspired comic strip…if one is interested. I haven’t read Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich the first book in this series, but I will. But then I learned of Adam Rex from a Guys Read anthology, and then the brilliant novel True Meaning of Smekday [N recommends Cold Cereal, too]. But if you’ve a 5-10 year old, go ahead and start them here and keep Adam Rex on their shelves from here on out. Not that you’ll need the excuse to have him around as well. He is such a talented author and illustrator and should not be missed.
L (omphaloskepsis)
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...
A story can be found amidst Headless Horseman’s blog posts, the advertising section, Edgar Allen Poe and his increasingly frustrated Raven, a Peanuts inspired comic strip…if one is interested. I haven’t read Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich the first book in this series, but I will. But then I learned of Adam Rex from a Guys Read anthology, and then the brilliant novel True Meaning of Smekday [N recommends Cold Cereal, too]. But if you’ve a 5-10 year old, go ahead and start them here and keep Adam Rex on their shelves from here on out. Not that you’ll need the excuse to have him around as well. He is such a talented author and illustrator and should not be missed.
L (omphaloskepsis)
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...
August 23, 2008
Another wonderful book from Adam Rex. The poem format bothered me a little in this one, because Rex's humor and creativity are so out of bounds that it seems a little ridiculous to then constrain them within the "box" of poetry, but overall it's kept pretty lively. Like some other reviewers, I do question if this material would appeal to kids as much as it does to me, but as I am generally a selfish knave, such thoughts will not cause me to delete stars from my rating. In other words....
Suck MUD, toddlers! I'm reading!!!
Suck MUD, toddlers! I'm reading!!!
July 22, 2009
Absurd stories, poems, blogs, and advertisements from monstrous characters of our favorite movies and poems. Many references to Poe's "The Raven" and other things that the supposed target audience (ages 5-10 ???) wouldn't get. I found the humor much more clever than my son did in this one... I personally LOVED it and hope to own it someday. I'll pull it out again when my son studies "The Raven" at an age when he gets it better.
August 23, 2012
This is a hilarious collection of poems, including the super funny Frankenstein Takes the Cake, that will keep both mom & dad and the little ones rolling on the floor. Don't wait for Halloween, check out this book today!
AR 3.7
.5 points
AR 3.7
.5 points
August 25, 2016
Witty. Clever. AND IT RHYMES. well, mostly. My favorite poem is a haiku about the author. It reads:
He knows Frankenstein's
the doctor, not the monster.
Enough already.
Genius.
He knows Frankenstein's
the doctor, not the monster.
Enough already.
Genius.
April 4, 2017
such a good book read it easily to my siblings kinda a fake children advertisement
October 31, 2024
A follow-up to Frankenstein Makes A Sandwich. I didn’t like this one as much as the last one, but I loved the wedding story. In fact, had the wedding story been more of a focus, I probably would have enjoyed this one even better.
I didn’t much like the other sections aside from the Edgar Allan Poems. The last section of the book was the best since it involved the wedding story. I especially loved the story about Dracula’s trip to the wedding buffet. The raven section at the end was a nice touch.
Just like the last book, the illustrations are fun. However, some of the humor felt a bit too old for kids, especially considering this was published in 2012. The mail order gag especially felt ancient. Perhaps these sections are really more for parents.
I didn’t much like the other sections aside from the Edgar Allan Poems. The last section of the book was the best since it involved the wedding story. I especially loved the story about Dracula’s trip to the wedding buffet. The raven section at the end was a nice touch.
Just like the last book, the illustrations are fun. However, some of the humor felt a bit too old for kids, especially considering this was published in 2012. The mail order gag especially felt ancient. Perhaps these sections are really more for parents.
April 14, 2017
So the Sphinx has been using the desert as a litter box for centuries! Funny stories that are very unique and amusing.
September 15, 2019
So cute and so funny! A new favorite children's book.
August 5, 2022
My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:
https://youtu.be/BVh4dA4UrFQ
Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/BVh4dA4UrFQ
Enjoy!
August 22, 2008
Rex, Adam. 2008. Frankenstein Takes the Cake Which Is Full of Of Funny Stuff Like Rotting Heads and Giant Gorillas and Zombies Dressed As Little Girls and Edgar Allan Poe. The Book We Mean--Not The Cake.
This book, Frankenstein Takes the Cake, is the follow up to Adam Rex's Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich. (A book which sadly I haven't read yet though I have heard wonderful stuff about it.) The book is a collection of semi-related poems--funny poems about the lighter side of the dark and spooky. The illustrations are perfectly paired with the text.
Here's one of my favorites:
New Glasses
In her classes, without glasses,
she could barely see the board.
With her specs she checks the teachers,
sees their frightened, frozen features--
Oh so that's why,
when she raised her hand,
Medusa was ignored.
My other favorite from the book was "E.T. Mail."
E.T.-Mail
We assumed it was the case
that in a place as big as space
we'd find some trace of other races
with our scientific bases.
When a signal was detected,
it was not what we expected.
In the subject line it pleaded,
Please reply--
Assistance needed
SALUTATIONS TO YOUR HEALTH.
PLEASE HELP ME TRANSFER ALL MY WEALTH
INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT ON EARTH--
ELEVEN MILLION DOLLARS WORTH.
I NEED YOUR ANSWER RIGHT AWAY.
PLEASE SEND A LETTER BACK TODAY
(ALONG WITH FIFTY DOLLARS, PLEASE,
TO PAY THE MONEY-TRANSFER FEES).
We gasped--a message from the stars!
And then another came from Mars:
NEED BIGGER, YELLOWER ANTENNAE?
HAVE TOO FEW OR HAVE TOO MANY?
LOSS OF VIGOR? LOUSY SLEEPER?
OUR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE CHEAPER!!!
We were noticing a pattern,
when a bunch arrived from Saturn:
FANCY WATCHES! CLICK AND SEE!
and GET YOUR HYPERSCHOOL DEGREE.
At SINGLES IN YOUR SECTOR!!!
we disabled our detector.
Then we emptied out the cache
and dragged the letters to the trash.
So that's the fact we had to face:
There's no intelligence in space.
But that's okay--for what it's worth,
there isn't much of it on Earth.
Anyway, this was a fun book. A really fun book. I can't really compare it to the first book (better, worse, bout the same) but I can say that I enjoyed it all on its own.
Roundup is at Read. Imagine. Talk.
© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
This book, Frankenstein Takes the Cake, is the follow up to Adam Rex's Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich. (A book which sadly I haven't read yet though I have heard wonderful stuff about it.) The book is a collection of semi-related poems--funny poems about the lighter side of the dark and spooky. The illustrations are perfectly paired with the text.
Here's one of my favorites:
New Glasses
In her classes, without glasses,
she could barely see the board.
With her specs she checks the teachers,
sees their frightened, frozen features--
Oh so that's why,
when she raised her hand,
Medusa was ignored.
My other favorite from the book was "E.T. Mail."
E.T.-Mail
We assumed it was the case
that in a place as big as space
we'd find some trace of other races
with our scientific bases.
When a signal was detected,
it was not what we expected.
In the subject line it pleaded,
Please reply--
Assistance needed
SALUTATIONS TO YOUR HEALTH.
PLEASE HELP ME TRANSFER ALL MY WEALTH
INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT ON EARTH--
ELEVEN MILLION DOLLARS WORTH.
I NEED YOUR ANSWER RIGHT AWAY.
PLEASE SEND A LETTER BACK TODAY
(ALONG WITH FIFTY DOLLARS, PLEASE,
TO PAY THE MONEY-TRANSFER FEES).
We gasped--a message from the stars!
And then another came from Mars:
NEED BIGGER, YELLOWER ANTENNAE?
HAVE TOO FEW OR HAVE TOO MANY?
LOSS OF VIGOR? LOUSY SLEEPER?
OUR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE CHEAPER!!!
We were noticing a pattern,
when a bunch arrived from Saturn:
FANCY WATCHES! CLICK AND SEE!
and GET YOUR HYPERSCHOOL DEGREE.
At SINGLES IN YOUR SECTOR!!!
we disabled our detector.
Then we emptied out the cache
and dragged the letters to the trash.
So that's the fact we had to face:
There's no intelligence in space.
But that's okay--for what it's worth,
there isn't much of it on Earth.
Anyway, this was a fun book. A really fun book. I can't really compare it to the first book (better, worse, bout the same) but I can say that I enjoyed it all on its own.
Roundup is at Read. Imagine. Talk.
© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
May 22, 2021
This is part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For a fuller explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf.
Good news, everyone! GoodReads managed to correct one of the lists! I am truly delighted to be back on the Reviewers list among so many people who provide such a useful and entertaining range of reviews from serious literary criticism to casual one liners to whimsical projects.
Now, about fixing the Readers list....
I confess to loving this book of monster poetry slightly less than Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich. No good reason. This one has amusing endpapers, as well as copyright page and author bio, and it has lots more Poe and crows. This one also has a broad array of art and poetry styles. Like I said, no good reason.
Library copy even though there's probably a copy in the house.
***
21 November 2010
We're all becoming Rex fans. Rex ran a contest on his blog for monster haiku and the Possum won a copy of this book signed to her, with a doodle illustrating her haiku. I think my kids are awesome, as is Adam Rex.
***
25 September 2008
Quality horror-film based comic poetry. The Headless Horseman's Blog is spot on, but it's all great. The Japanese rubber-suit-monster haiku were especially pleasing.
We all loved it.
Good news, everyone! GoodReads managed to correct one of the lists! I am truly delighted to be back on the Reviewers list among so many people who provide such a useful and entertaining range of reviews from serious literary criticism to casual one liners to whimsical projects.
Now, about fixing the Readers list....
I confess to loving this book of monster poetry slightly less than Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich. No good reason. This one has amusing endpapers, as well as copyright page and author bio, and it has lots more Poe and crows. This one also has a broad array of art and poetry styles. Like I said, no good reason.
Library copy even though there's probably a copy in the house.
***
21 November 2010
We're all becoming Rex fans. Rex ran a contest on his blog for monster haiku and the Possum won a copy of this book signed to her, with a doodle illustrating her haiku. I think my kids are awesome, as is Adam Rex.
***
25 September 2008
Quality horror-film based comic poetry. The Headless Horseman's Blog is spot on, but it's all great. The Japanese rubber-suit-monster haiku were especially pleasing.
We all loved it.
August 3, 2012
Self-aware from the opening endpages to its closing endpages, Rex’s second volume of Frankensteinian verse is simultaneously the gift and the curse--a paean to the horror fiction of the past two centuries as well as a lyrical skewering of it. Because of the rather broad body of work to which it alludes, younger readers may enjoy and understand the poetry only superficially, while an older audience with exposure to Godzilla, King Kong, the Wizard of Oz, vampires, werewolves, E.T., Alfred Hitchcock, and Edgar Allen Poe will have a much richer experience. While the overarching narrative is that of preparations for the nuptials of the creation and his made-to-order bride, in the tradition of Monty Python’s Flying Circus many digressions are made, some of which are returned to repeatedly. Each segment, no matter its initial appearance, is a poem. These verses come disguised as a letter, sequential art, blog posts, a post card, and even as an advertisement with its associated fine print. Rex’s attention to detail and his zany wit are the very heart of this monstrous creation. He turns verse on its ghoulish head not only revelling in wordplay and the musicality of language but also extending the text with illustrations of the quotidian un-life of monsterhood and thereby proving that these creatures that go bump in the night are “just like you and me (Well, sort of).” In short, Frankenstein Takes The Cake could cajole even the most recalcitrant male reader into admitting that poetry isn’t just for girls.
February 12, 2014
I loved this book!!! I am always looking for books that are different and interesting. This book is similar to tales such as The Stinky Cheese Man because it involves a story the moves along in connection with poems of different themes. It hooked me in right away with a humorous comic of Frankenstein getting married. Then, there are poems in the form of a blog by a pumpkin head that continue throughout the book. My favorite was the poem about the Sphinx because it made me laugh. There are segments regarding Edgar Allan Poe as well. I loved all the poems and loved how there were a variety of styles as well. I would definitely recommend this book because it would keep many students' interest and can be used for several concepts. I would use the book in my own classroom to teach about different types of poems, rhyming, illustations and how a story progresses. The book can be used for younger ages but may need to be split up into intervals. I plan to buy this book in the future.
February 17, 2015
A very, very funny book of poems, rhymes, Poe, and Frankenstein! The fun starts on the inside cover, Wolfman, Drac, The Mummy and The Creature from the Black Lagoon assuming that you (the reader) are Frankie. But, the stories and poems don't stop there. This book offers a reason to the strange origin of these stories, a sampling of Haikus (with a haiku *about* haikus), Frankenstein's new in-laws, blog posts from a certain Horseman, Alien contact, and more, culminating in a wedding extraordinaire!
This was funny, and the simple flowing rhyming made it easy to read aloud. The colorful artwork encouraged my daughter to stop jumping on the bed and come and take a look. And the references made me giggle as I read the short stories and ads. Frankenstein, indeed, Takes the Cake!
This was funny, and the simple flowing rhyming made it easy to read aloud. The colorful artwork encouraged my daughter to stop jumping on the bed and come and take a look. And the references made me giggle as I read the short stories and ads. Frankenstein, indeed, Takes the Cake!
September 12, 2008
Frankenstein Takes the Cake Which is Full of Funny Stuff Like Rotting Heads and Giant Gorillas and Zombies Dressed as Little Girls and Edgar Allan Poe. the Book, We Mean - Not the Cake by Adam Rex makes the perfect autumn wedding present for your librarian friends (especially because writing the title in the thank you note leaves little room to say anything else!). Well, the title says it all. Check out the headless horseman
blog. Check out the Peanuts and Poe satires. Filled with ghoulish poetry, cartoons, pictures, line drawing, paintings, you name it. Leave this one on the table for your teens to find. They and adults will appreciate it the most!
blog. Check out the Peanuts and Poe satires. Filled with ghoulish poetry, cartoons, pictures, line drawing, paintings, you name it. Leave this one on the table for your teens to find. They and adults will appreciate it the most!
May 16, 2011
I got a real kick out of this one. My 9-year-old enjoyed it, too, when we read it together, but it was hard for him to catch all the allusions. It’s best suited to older readers. As a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, I especially loved Rex’s spoofs of the Raven. The Headless Horseman’s blog was great. But the Kaiju Haiku page really stole my heart. This is strange collection of poems and art, not a typical storybook. Throughout, the artwork is gorgeous and varied – photographs, cartoons, paintings, line drawings – and the stories/skits are funny. Any reader is bound to like a few of them. Definitely worth looking for and rereading.
May 27, 2010
The sequel the Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich. The entire title is Frankenstein Takes the Cake Which is Full of Funny Stuff Like Rotting Heads and Giant Gorillas and Zombies Dressed as Little Girls and Edgar Allan Poe. The Book, We Mean--Not the Cake..
Not quite as funny as the original but it has the same rhyming structure except there is an underlying storyline about Frankenstein's upcoming marriage to the Bride of Frankenstein. Dracula returns, this time not having luck with the garlic bread at the buffet.
Not quite as funny as the original but it has the same rhyming structure except there is an underlying storyline about Frankenstein's upcoming marriage to the Bride of Frankenstein. Dracula returns, this time not having luck with the garlic bread at the buffet.
November 12, 2010
This was another super-cute book by Adam Rex. The inner cover of the book has a little comic with the monsters stopping by and thinking that you, the reader, are Frankenstein and they are wishing you a happy birthday. The mummy just says, "Meh." The rest of the book is written in the rhyming and short story style just like the first book. It really is very cute. At the end of the book the author says (in rhyme, of course) that he knows that Frankenstein is really the doctor and not the monster and to stop writing in to tell him that.
July 31, 2008
Comic strips, poems, excerpts from the Headless Horseman's blog, Kaiju Haiku! This is the best book I am reading this morning while it's slow on the desk at work. The Frankenstein bits are funny, & Poe's Raven is hilarious. There are a couple misses - Peanuts style Dracula Jr. isn't as Charles Schultz as you want it to be - But this is a fun fun book!
March 8, 2009
I loved, loved the first Frankenstein poems but was a little disappointed in this sequel. The format is a little different with lots of photographs (which I thought was the best part of the book) but I don't love the poems. Not as catchy or engaging...oh well. You can't win them all.
September 10, 2008
I was very disappointed. The first book was hilarious, but the second one has VERY tough rhymes (some don't read as rhyming at all) and has too many references to things kids won't know. Sad!
December 28, 2012
I bought this book for my nephew, flipped through it, read it, admired the illustrations, and then kept it for myself. I'm not the least bit sorry.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews