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Jeremy and the Monster
Jeremy Draws a Monster
Alone in his room, Jeremy draws amonster. But then themonster wants lunch! As his creation takes over, Jeremy begins to wonder how he will ever get rid of themonstrous nuisance.He entertains his unwanted guest all day, but enough is enough. Jeremy finally draws him a bus ticket out of town!
With a sure artistic touch and more than a dose of humor, Peter McCarty cleverly blurs the line between his own drawings and Jeremy’s, and in doing so subtly questions the line between reality and imagination.
With a sure artistic touch and more than a dose of humor, Peter McCarty cleverly blurs the line between his own drawings and Jeremy’s, and in doing so subtly questions the line between reality and imagination.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2009
About the author
Peter McCarty
36 books57 followersI was born in 1966 in Westport, Connecticut right in the middle of two older brothers and two younger sisters. We kept our mother busy while my father worked long hours at IBM. Most of my childhood was spent in my head. I was usually recreating a battle from World War II or running from dinosaurs in prehistoric times. To this day, I develop characters and environments based on worlds I first created when I was three. I am grateful to my mother who kept us surrounded with art. I come from a long line of artists and my grandmother, Grace Boyd, was the best. She died before I was born, but her fantastic paintings and drawings were all around us.
Since my father worked for IBM, we moved often. I think being on the move during my formative years has been the reason I tend to create books about returning home. By the time I graduated from high school we were living in Boulder, Colorado. At the University of Colorado, I began my long career as a professional student. I first thought I was going to be an engineer so I took all kinds of science and math classes. I enjoyed solving math problems, but I could not see myself working in a lab. Along the way, I continued to draw and create worlds as I always have. My friends and teachers were very supportive. Around the time when I should have been graduating, I decided to start over and go to art school at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. I finally graduated from college, in 1992.
One of my illustration teachers, William Low introduced me to Laura Godwin, a children’s book editor at Henry Holt and Company. She gave me my first professional art job to illustrate a little science book, Frozen Man written by David Getz. I worked really hard on that book. Laura was impressed; so I was offered to illustrate a picture book, Night Driving written by John Coy. Again I did the best illustrations I knew how, like my life depended on it. One drawing of a car going over a bridge made my girlfriend cry. She said, “Oh, you can draw.” We were then married in 1995.
Night Driving was first published in 1996 and received praise from critics and won some awards. Laura Godwin then offered me the best of all offers; I could write and illustrate whatever I wanted. Little Bunny on the Move came into my mind after months of searching for a story. Little Bunny on the Move was published in 1999 and won a Best Illustrated Book of the Year from the New York Times. That book established my career and gave me the confidence to continue to write and illustrate the stories from my mind.
Since my father worked for IBM, we moved often. I think being on the move during my formative years has been the reason I tend to create books about returning home. By the time I graduated from high school we were living in Boulder, Colorado. At the University of Colorado, I began my long career as a professional student. I first thought I was going to be an engineer so I took all kinds of science and math classes. I enjoyed solving math problems, but I could not see myself working in a lab. Along the way, I continued to draw and create worlds as I always have. My friends and teachers were very supportive. Around the time when I should have been graduating, I decided to start over and go to art school at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. I finally graduated from college, in 1992.
One of my illustration teachers, William Low introduced me to Laura Godwin, a children’s book editor at Henry Holt and Company. She gave me my first professional art job to illustrate a little science book, Frozen Man written by David Getz. I worked really hard on that book. Laura was impressed; so I was offered to illustrate a picture book, Night Driving written by John Coy. Again I did the best illustrations I knew how, like my life depended on it. One drawing of a car going over a bridge made my girlfriend cry. She said, “Oh, you can draw.” We were then married in 1995.
Night Driving was first published in 1996 and received praise from critics and won some awards. Laura Godwin then offered me the best of all offers; I could write and illustrate whatever I wanted. Little Bunny on the Move came into my mind after months of searching for a story. Little Bunny on the Move was published in 1999 and won a Best Illustrated Book of the Year from the New York Times. That book established my career and gave me the confidence to continue to write and illustrate the stories from my mind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
October 16, 2009
Harold and the Purple Crayon meets If You Give a Mouse a CookieHarold and the Purple Crayon. Clever and subtle.
October 24, 2009
Jeremy never leaves the house and never plays with the other kids in the neighborhood. One day, he draws a monster who ends up being very demanding and Jeremy finds himself drawing up everything the monster wants!
Reminiscent of Harold and the Purple Crayon and I enjoyed the illustrations which I found to be very "pretty." (strange that I felt I had to put that in "quotes" so it wouldn't be misconstrued as an insult?)
While I gave it only two stars but I can't really pinpoint what I didn't like about the story. Perhaps I feel there is an underlying message of imagination being "bad" because it might go out of one's own control. While I get that it is healthier for Jeremy to go outside and play with his friends than to stay inside alone with his own thoughts all day, I don't agree that imagination is a bad thing.
Perhaps I am reading just a bit too much into it!
Reminiscent of Harold and the Purple Crayon and I enjoyed the illustrations which I found to be very "pretty." (strange that I felt I had to put that in "quotes" so it wouldn't be misconstrued as an insult?)
While I gave it only two stars but I can't really pinpoint what I didn't like about the story. Perhaps I feel there is an underlying message of imagination being "bad" because it might go out of one's own control. While I get that it is healthier for Jeremy to go outside and play with his friends than to stay inside alone with his own thoughts all day, I don't agree that imagination is a bad thing.
Perhaps I am reading just a bit too much into it!
January 12, 2011
This story started off great--a little boy who doesn't really leave his apartment wants some company and he draws a monster; well, it comes to life and starts making demands! As another reviewer so astutely noted, it's like "Harold and the Purple Crayon" meets "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"
But, ultimately, I just wanted more from the ending. What conclusion do we make about imagination? Was the monster in some way representative of the boy's behavior which he has now changed? I wasn't quite satisfied, but this is still worth reading if you are up for some interesting and creative artwork.
But, ultimately, I just wanted more from the ending. What conclusion do we make about imagination? Was the monster in some way representative of the boy's behavior which he has now changed? I wasn't quite satisfied, but this is still worth reading if you are up for some interesting and creative artwork.
August 20, 2009
Although many (many) celebrities might beg to differ, writing children’s books is hard work. Limited vocabulary and limited space add to the difficulty of creating a story that (and this is the biggest challenge of all) will resonate with youngsters who are just learning how to read. There are scores of contrived, dull picture books that stand as a testament to the challenges of the medium. But occasionally, a picture book comes along that is so wonderfully pure that it makes you understand why some believe authoring a kids book is cake. Peter McCarty's (Hondo & Fabian) Jeremy Draws a Monster is this sort of book. A simple, beautiful book that will join the well-populated ranks of Books about Imagination with gusto.
Too shy to go outside and make friends, Jeremy decides to create some company in the safety of his bedroom. Using a blue pen, he sketches a giant, horned monster. It isn’t long before the rude beast begins to get demanding. Food, music, board games – Jeremy has trouble keeping up with the requests. When the monster comes home late and commandeers Jeremy’s bed, the boy decides that it is time for his guest to hit the road. He hands the monster a ticket and a suitcase and shows him to the bus stop. After the bus speeds off Jeremy is by himself in a place he never has had the courage to go – outside. When a group of neighbors ask him to play, Jeremy decides to take them up on the offer.
Although it includes a monster, noise and bluster don't dominate the book. The plot has a wonderful pacing that slowly builds, with a conclusion that young readers might expect, yet not see coming. While it won’t slay readers with action or huge laffs (as we librarians are so often drawn to during story time), this one should work well in a read-aloud setting. I can see kids putting themselves in Jeremy’s tiny, tiny shoes (well, socks actually) pretty easily.
Against the pure white backdrops that help to express Jeremy's self-imposed isolation, McCarty’s pen & ink and watercolor illustrations vibrantly assert themselves.
I’m guessing this will be one of those books that critics, parents and kids will all like – it’s a big-tenter to be sure. Here’s hoping plenty of people crowd in.
Too shy to go outside and make friends, Jeremy decides to create some company in the safety of his bedroom. Using a blue pen, he sketches a giant, horned monster. It isn’t long before the rude beast begins to get demanding. Food, music, board games – Jeremy has trouble keeping up with the requests. When the monster comes home late and commandeers Jeremy’s bed, the boy decides that it is time for his guest to hit the road. He hands the monster a ticket and a suitcase and shows him to the bus stop. After the bus speeds off Jeremy is by himself in a place he never has had the courage to go – outside. When a group of neighbors ask him to play, Jeremy decides to take them up on the offer.
Although it includes a monster, noise and bluster don't dominate the book. The plot has a wonderful pacing that slowly builds, with a conclusion that young readers might expect, yet not see coming. While it won’t slay readers with action or huge laffs (as we librarians are so often drawn to during story time), this one should work well in a read-aloud setting. I can see kids putting themselves in Jeremy’s tiny, tiny shoes (well, socks actually) pretty easily.
Against the pure white backdrops that help to express Jeremy's self-imposed isolation, McCarty’s pen & ink and watercolor illustrations vibrantly assert themselves.
I’m guessing this will be one of those books that critics, parents and kids will all like – it’s a big-tenter to be sure. Here’s hoping plenty of people crowd in.
August 23, 2025
Read at Gwen's house
August 1, 2018
Initially I felt like one of the other reviewers here, that the ending was not fully realized. But then I felt, what was really missing? Do kids really need to know why a boy would draw a monster and it take over, until this boy ended up outside? I think it is adults who think this way.
What this book does brilliantly is show a boy creating transference to deal with his problem. Initially we do not know why the boy is inside alone. But quickly we see he may be keeping himself there. He has taken the inner shadow of anxiety about going outside and playing with children, being accepted perhaps, and made it come alive in a drawing. His annoyance at how the monster is controlling his life then becomes apparent. Facing the monster's increasing demands, Jeremy comes in touch with his power to create things, and eventually this empowers him to problem-solve by creating change. He vanquishes the monster. But it is not enough to simply send it away. We have already seen it returns. He needs to escort it onto a bus himself... which allows him the transition of being in the right place to accept an offer of inclusion.
I would totally recommend this story to any child dealing with anxiety, or the shy child who does not like to talk about his/her fears or problems... or even if they do talk about them, but still holding back. If not inspired by this book to draw, simply by leaving materials for them, one can so easily ask a child, "Would you like to draw?" and see what happens.
What this book does brilliantly is show a boy creating transference to deal with his problem. Initially we do not know why the boy is inside alone. But quickly we see he may be keeping himself there. He has taken the inner shadow of anxiety about going outside and playing with children, being accepted perhaps, and made it come alive in a drawing. His annoyance at how the monster is controlling his life then becomes apparent. Facing the monster's increasing demands, Jeremy comes in touch with his power to create things, and eventually this empowers him to problem-solve by creating change. He vanquishes the monster. But it is not enough to simply send it away. We have already seen it returns. He needs to escort it onto a bus himself... which allows him the transition of being in the right place to accept an offer of inclusion.
I would totally recommend this story to any child dealing with anxiety, or the shy child who does not like to talk about his/her fears or problems... or even if they do talk about them, but still holding back. If not inspired by this book to draw, simply by leaving materials for them, one can so easily ask a child, "Would you like to draw?" and see what happens.
December 24, 2011
Jeremy draws a monster that comes to life. Rather than being scary, the monster is annoying, constantly making demands and behaving inconsiderately. Fed up, the boy draws it a suitcase and bus ticket and sends it out of town.
If my paper copy didn't say 2009 I would think that was an error, because I'm positive I read the same story (with different illustrations) a few years ago.
Entertaining, but there are better drawings-coming-to-life picture books out there.
If my paper copy didn't say 2009 I would think that was an error, because I'm positive I read the same story (with different illustrations) a few years ago.
Entertaining, but there are better drawings-coming-to-life picture books out there.
October 21, 2015
Like other readers, I'm not quite sure what to make of this book. For one thing, the ending is really tacked on. Another thing is that I'm left ruminating about what the message is supposed to be, and all I want is to find a cute book about monsters for storytime!
October 31, 2014
This book would make a PERFECT graduation present. High school graduate. College graduate. I REALLY do no think 3-year-olds grasp the concepts in this book - but, a new graduate? Might.
December 5, 2017
This book starts by introducing a little boy named Jeremy. It is implied that Jeremy is very shy. He does not want to go out and play with the other kids, even though he can see them from his window. Jeremy just wants to stay inside and draw. On day, he decides to draw a monster. The monster is very bossy, and orders him to draw many new thing for him. Jeremy gets so fed up that he draws the monster a suitcase and bus pass and escorts him outside. It is then that the neighborhood kids see him, and invite him to come play. Jeremy agrees.
This was a sweet story about the struggles of being introverted, and what imagination can do for a child like this. The story contains many similarities to Harold and the Purple Crayon. They both have the central theme of how a child can create his own imaginative world through art and creativity. I’m not sure if I would read this book aloud to students or include it in a classroom library. It’s very simple and the idea has been done many times before. If I were to recommend this book, it would be for pre-k to kindergarteners.
This was a sweet story about the struggles of being introverted, and what imagination can do for a child like this. The story contains many similarities to Harold and the Purple Crayon. They both have the central theme of how a child can create his own imaginative world through art and creativity. I’m not sure if I would read this book aloud to students or include it in a classroom library. It’s very simple and the idea has been done many times before. If I were to recommend this book, it would be for pre-k to kindergarteners.
August 29, 2024
This book was pretty average. I did not love or hate it however I think this book could be best used as a class library book instead of being used for a read aloud. I noted that you could tie a discussion about solving problems and feelings to this book, but I think there is probably a better one to use that more clearly identifies a problem, solution, and character's feelings. I do think students would enjoy the book so I would not eliminate it from the classroom, I would just not use it as a major book in the classroom.
November 8, 2024
This looked familiar to me ... but maybe it's just that I had read Fall Ball by this same author/illustrator, and a couple books where the main character draws. I liked this better than the Fall Ball book (some irony of the ending here). Is there a deeper meaning here? That an imagination can be a monster? That sometimes a bad thing can force us to do something hard (like go outside), ultimately a good thing? Am I trying to find something in what is really just a simple story more about the illustrations than the words?
April 28, 2018
A brief but powerful story! Jeremy is lonely, he doesn't go outside (though we don't know why) so he draws a monster in search of having a playmate and friend. The monster doesn't work out as hoped and Jeremy has to send him away. Getting the monster to the bus stop means having to go outside, which Jeremy does, and with that accomplishment, he is asked by the kids on the street to play ball. And he does! Inner struggle overcome by what needs to be done. Just simply brilliant!
July 17, 2018
I can't believe I've never actually reviewed this (okay, I can, because I know myself and my incredibly inconsistent reviewing habits).
Anyhow, this is one of my all-time favorite storytime books. It combines simplicity and cleverness well enough to work with a variety of ages, has subtle yet dynamic pictures, and says a lot without being overtly didactic.
Sadly, I didn't think the sequel, The Monster Returns, was quite as good.
Anyhow, this is one of my all-time favorite storytime books. It combines simplicity and cleverness well enough to work with a variety of ages, has subtle yet dynamic pictures, and says a lot without being overtly didactic.
Sadly, I didn't think the sequel, The Monster Returns, was quite as good.
October 1, 2025
Adorable book about an introverted young artist who creates an increasingly demanding and annoying monster. I thought it was so funny when I read it to my own kiddo a million years ago.
One of my favorite things about this book is how McCarty demonstrates that solving problems doesn't have to be a long slog. Sometimes, one simple and thoughtful action can get the job done! This book makes me feel hopeful.
One of my favorite things about this book is how McCarty demonstrates that solving problems doesn't have to be a long slog. Sometimes, one simple and thoughtful action can get the job done! This book makes me feel hopeful.
June 8, 2018
I was right there on this book until the end. I liked the creation of the monster. I was fine with the adventures. But then...the end? I...still have no idea why the author wrote it this way. Was there a purpose? A moral? Something I missed? Maybe, but it left me feeling unresolved, so the author clearly didn't achieve (at least with me) whatever goal he had aimed to reach.
September 20, 2018
Sort of Like Harold of crayon fame, and Max of Where the Wild things are- sometimes creations just get away from us. Same idea as Jeremy does indeed draw a monster who didn't turn out quite like he expected. The story fell a little flat, as the monster ends up inadvertently helping Jeremy out, but it was a bit forced.
October 8, 2020
I want to like this story more, but the monster is rude and the story sort of just ends without much of a "conclusion" feel. There is a point - the rude monster caused Jeremy to get out of his house long enough to make friends in the real world. I like that. It just felt a little underdeveloped. But I'm being nitpicky.
April 25, 2020
The monster Jeremy draws turns out to be a rude and unkind guest. How will Jeremy cope? A great story for pointing out all the places the monster could have said please or thank you, or discussing ways he could have asked for things more kindly.
December 19, 2023
I liked this book. It is a very simple book with a good message at the end. I read this book to my first graders and they enjoyed it. This is also an AR book for anyone who might want to know. I would recommend this book to others.
September 29, 2017
Font size is really good. Art is pretty. Story's alright.
January 19, 2018
Little boy draws a monster who's quite a demanding creature. He problem solves with his pen, and eventually makes new friends. Funny and a bit odd.
March 7, 2018
something missing to make this a cohesive story
September 27, 2018
The illustrations are cute and the idea is fun, but I just wanted more from this one. There's not enough story or conclusion or something - it just left me wanting, feeling like it wasn't quite over.
November 10, 2018
Fun read about imagination and trying new things and unpleasant guests.
December 19, 2018
I loved this book! The art is fantastic. I could spend so much time with each page looking at each squiggle or swirl. So very very creative!!~
October 7, 2019
This is a book about a boy who draws a monster, which is really a deeper metaphor for some internal turbulence. I really liked how this book had a quiet message about coping with difficult problems.
January 4, 2021
My low rating is only because I have no one to share this with. It’s a story of a kid discovering himself and also the dangers of art? Don’t draw — play soccer!
March 31, 2021
Another good book for October... a book about a monster that isn’t Halloween. Great for relating to kids about what scares them.
June 27, 2021
بچه نقاشی هیولایی را میکشد و یکدفعه هیولا از نقاشی میآید بیرون. بعد هم پشتسر هم به بچه اُرد میدهد و عاصیاش میکند. هم داستانش جالب بود و هم پایان خیلی خوبی داشت.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews