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Morris the Mankiest Monster
It's years since he last changed his t-shirtIt's crusty and crawling with antsHis shoes are all slurpy and squelchy insideAnd potatoes grow out of his pantsMorris is sweet, charming... and completely disgusting!Kids will absolutely LOVE him.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2009
About the author
Giles Andreae
223 books165 followersGiles Andreae is the author of several children's books, including the best-selling Giraffes Can't Dance, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees. He is the creator of Purple Ronnie, one of the most successfully licensed cartoon characters in his native England.
Giles lives with his wife and three children in Notting Hill, England.
Giles lives with his wife and three children in Notting Hill, England.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 5, 2021
Completely gross and really fun. Made mum quite sick. :D
November 29, 2023
That'a hard to read directly after supper. Seriously stomach-churning.
"BUT I LOVE IT!" - preschooler
"BUT I LOVE IT!" - preschooler
November 21, 2020
I think this is such an amazing books! Andreae and McIntyre use really exciting vocabulary to describe a monster, who really is very disgusting! Every bit of the monster's actions, descriptions and illustrations make him seem horribly unhygienic! I think children would find this story very funny, and be very shocked by some of the things the monster does!
I would definitely read this to children in free time to develop reading for pleasure. In literacy, children could discuss the effect on the reader of using interesting vocabulary and similes to describe the monster. The authors never directly say that the monster is disgusting - it is just heavily implied. Children could then think about how they could write something similarly.
Discussions about hygiene in science could also stem from reading this.
I would definitely read this to children in free time to develop reading for pleasure. In literacy, children could discuss the effect on the reader of using interesting vocabulary and similes to describe the monster. The authors never directly say that the monster is disgusting - it is just heavily implied. Children could then think about how they could write something similarly.
Discussions about hygiene in science could also stem from reading this.
August 3, 2020
A great fun, disgusting kids story. My 8 month old found it hilarious.
March 9, 2021
This book is truly disgusting! Would definitely recommend reading away from food.
I think children would really enjoy this book and find it so funny. Despite how disgusting it is, this book could be a good resource when teaching children about descriptive writing.
I think children would really enjoy this book and find it so funny. Despite how disgusting it is, this book could be a good resource when teaching children about descriptive writing.
November 18, 2020
The book is certainly something children would read and laugh at but I could not read this aloud. Well illustrated and thought out rhymes but utterly disgusting
April 21, 2021
1 year and 10 months - This book was a bit disgusting - definitely one for older children as it was a little worrying.
May 29, 2022
This book was pretty gross but I know my baby cousin will love it!
December 22, 2010
Morris the Mankiest Monster is possibly the most disgusting children's picture book ever and a very worthy successor to the filthy crown that for many years has been worn by Raymond Briggs and his Fungus the Bogeyman. How's this for a great set of opening lines:
"Morris the Mankiest Monster
Lives in a house made of dung
It only smells stinky enough when it's damp
So he keeps the walls wet with his tongue".
And that's one of the more pleasant quatrains in this gloriously revolting book, a more disgusting example being:
"His cheeks are encrusted with pustules
Which dribble like hot melted cheese
Warm yellow wax oozes out of his ears
And his eyebrows are riddled with fleas".
Revolting, yes? Well now imagine the illustrations that go with it and you will have a very good idea of what this book is like - Sarah McIntyre certainly does not hold back with her illustrations of Giles Andreae's hilarious rhyming words. Just look at the cover image above - I'm not sure I will ever be able to eat stringy cheese again! Sarah's illustrations are all beautifully drawn, with an incredible attention to detail that will have children poring lovingly over the pages looking for all the nastiest little creatures that live in Morris's house, and more disgustingly on his body. If there was ever a book that should come with a guarantee that it will be loved by children it is this one, and their parents will love it as well.
Experts claim that one of the best ways to get children interested in books at an early age is for their parents to read to them. For boys, this is even more important, and especially if that parent or carer is male. However, to many parents reading to their kids can be seen as something of a chore, especially after a long day at work, but reading books like Morris the Mankiest Monster could never be classified as a chore - it is just so much fun.
"Morris the Mankiest Monster
Lives in a house made of dung
It only smells stinky enough when it's damp
So he keeps the walls wet with his tongue".
And that's one of the more pleasant quatrains in this gloriously revolting book, a more disgusting example being:
"His cheeks are encrusted with pustules
Which dribble like hot melted cheese
Warm yellow wax oozes out of his ears
And his eyebrows are riddled with fleas".
Revolting, yes? Well now imagine the illustrations that go with it and you will have a very good idea of what this book is like - Sarah McIntyre certainly does not hold back with her illustrations of Giles Andreae's hilarious rhyming words. Just look at the cover image above - I'm not sure I will ever be able to eat stringy cheese again! Sarah's illustrations are all beautifully drawn, with an incredible attention to detail that will have children poring lovingly over the pages looking for all the nastiest little creatures that live in Morris's house, and more disgustingly on his body. If there was ever a book that should come with a guarantee that it will be loved by children it is this one, and their parents will love it as well.
Experts claim that one of the best ways to get children interested in books at an early age is for their parents to read to them. For boys, this is even more important, and especially if that parent or carer is male. However, to many parents reading to their kids can be seen as something of a chore, especially after a long day at work, but reading books like Morris the Mankiest Monster could never be classified as a chore - it is just so much fun.
September 18, 2013
Enjoyment
Illustrations: 5/5 - Manky monster doing very gross things.
Readability: 5/5 - A great rhythm, loads of fun making gross noises and animations.
Storyline: 5/5 - Basically the book describes all the manky bad habits of a very gross monster.
Values
Gross Factor 5/5
I love reading this book. It is so much funny using disgusting expressions and pretending to be disgusted. The first time I read this it was to a group of three little girls and they were in hysterics. With each description I would grab the girls and illustrate on there body. "He keeps the walls moist with his tongue" (I mean, how can you not pretend to lick all the kids as you read a line like that one) --- Gross and the kids love it.
Illustrations: 5/5 - Manky monster doing very gross things.
Readability: 5/5 - A great rhythm, loads of fun making gross noises and animations.
Storyline: 5/5 - Basically the book describes all the manky bad habits of a very gross monster.
Values
Gross Factor 5/5
I love reading this book. It is so much funny using disgusting expressions and pretending to be disgusted. The first time I read this it was to a group of three little girls and they were in hysterics. With each description I would grab the girls and illustrate on there body. "He keeps the walls moist with his tongue" (I mean, how can you not pretend to lick all the kids as you read a line like that one) --- Gross and the kids love it.
June 24, 2014
I was introduced to this book during an inset meeting. It is a story of a monster who is really disgusting but he just wants to make friends. It is a great book for year one and above, a great idea is to have different things in trays and allow the children to guess what the story could be about. There is a lot of potential with writing for this book, you could write a letter a to Morris or you could create your own monsters and describe them. There is also an opportunity for children to create their own stories.
The illustrations are also done very well in this book.
A great read.
The illustrations are also done very well in this book.
A great read.
March 24, 2013
Me & my daughter just love this book! Morris is a manky monster who loves nothing more than picking scabs and washing his hair in the loo! The pictures are very colourful with lots of detail and there's a big smooshy surprise at the end that will make most children go eew or squeal in delight like my daughter does.
A really great book. Gets read at least twice a week if not more at bedtime.
A really great book. Gets read at least twice a week if not more at bedtime.
August 30, 2013
Absolutely deliciously disgusting! A colourful picture book that plays on every gross-out element of human nastiness you could imagine and has wonderfully horrible illustrations to go with it. All young kids will love Morris!
January 5, 2016
I have a 4 year old son and this is his favourite bedtime story. It's revolting, disgusting and everything all little boys love. Seriously, every child should have this book. It brings many laughs and now we've read it many times my son knows it enough to join in with the rhymes. Love it!
August 22, 2011
This was, by far, the best of the bunch of library books that my daughter picked from the library, we both enjoyed this one.
September 12, 2011
The guy was really silly, he wanted to kiss all the friends that he had.
November 22, 2011
Absolutely awful! No-one wanted to read it more than once.
... except for the children!
... except for the children!
November 18, 2015
A good stimulus for descriptive writing!
Read
September 30, 2017Vivid illustrations and a generally fun book.
Uses bright colours and bright words to describe how disgusting this monster is. Children would love it.
Some areas are maybe a tad too disgusting.
It has a difficult rhyme to it, so probably best to read to self before others.
Uses bright colours and bright words to describe how disgusting this monster is. Children would love it.
Some areas are maybe a tad too disgusting.
It has a difficult rhyme to it, so probably best to read to self before others.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews