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Street Monsters
It's a snowy winter's night in the city. The bedroom lights are off and it's time to settle down to sleep. But wait! What's that? Strange and scary sounds are coming from the streets outside. What can be making these sounds? Are monsters coming? Don't worry! All will soon be revealed. These monsters aren't here to frighten. They are here to help. Through rhyming text and atmospheric artwork, young readers can first imagine what might be making these mysterious sounds. Then a turn of the page identifies the actual "monsters"--vehicles and equipment like snowplows and garbage trucks--that help keep a city running smoothly. And now that all is well, it's time to go to bed! This clever concept is based on a bedtime ritual the author used with her own grandchildren to assuage their nighttime fears.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published August 15, 2023
15 people want to read
About the author
Barbara M. Joosse
67 books48 followers[Author also goes by the name Barbara Joosse.]
Barbara M. Joosse has written many books for children. Among them are Mama, Do You Love Me?, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee; and I Love You the Purplest, illustrated by Mary Whyte. She says, "When I was a little girl, I wished for two things — a best friend, and something so ferocious it would scare away the monsters under my bed. And so I have written Lovabye Dragon. I think maybe it’s for little me." Barbara Josse lives in Wisconsin.
Barbara M. Joosse has written many books for children. Among them are Mama, Do You Love Me?, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee; and I Love You the Purplest, illustrated by Mary Whyte. She says, "When I was a little girl, I wished for two things — a best friend, and something so ferocious it would scare away the monsters under my bed. And so I have written Lovabye Dragon. I think maybe it’s for little me." Barbara Josse lives in Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 11, 2024
Great book for kids who either love trucks or are scared of the noises they make.
December 4, 2023
I am so happy that Barbara stuck with her idea that children might be scared by the unusual sounds outside their homes and could conjure up Monsters. Without her wonderful idea, Kevin M. Barry would never have created such scary monsters in the snow, then turned around and created illustrations showing the real picture to soothe kids’ fears.
Children in snowy regions will relate to having a big snowstorm hit and children who have never experienced snow will be sucked into the drama of this book and help them understand the scariness and beauty of a blizzard. I’ve discovered recently that there are adults to aren’t familiar with what happens during a snowstorm, so they, too, will learn something while reading this book to their children.
I love the fun perfect rhyme you use to write the book. I was hooked right away with:
I hear them huff
and hear them claw.
I hear them growl
and hear them gnaw.
I hear them rattle their terrible bones
and hear them moan their terrible groans.
Children and Parents will enjoy the backmatter that shows and shares info about monster vehicles on the road. Great combo of text and art.
Children in snowy regions will relate to having a big snowstorm hit and children who have never experienced snow will be sucked into the drama of this book and help them understand the scariness and beauty of a blizzard. I’ve discovered recently that there are adults to aren’t familiar with what happens during a snowstorm, so they, too, will learn something while reading this book to their children.
I love the fun perfect rhyme you use to write the book. I was hooked right away with:
I hear them huff
and hear them claw.
I hear them growl
and hear them gnaw.
I hear them rattle their terrible bones
and hear them moan their terrible groans.
Children and Parents will enjoy the backmatter that shows and shares info about monster vehicles on the road. Great combo of text and art.
September 3, 2023
As residents know quite well, cities can be noisy places, even at night. When the narrator settles down for his bedtime, he can't sleep because there are monsters outside disturbing the quiet evening. Rhyming lines, onomatopoeia, and a brave father ready to protect his family add to the excitement and suspense of this story as do the eerie, eye-catching illustrations. While some youngsters will guess right away exactly what's making all that noise, the back matter includes photos and descriptions of these helpful monsters without whom it would be almost impossible for the city and its residents to make it smoothly through their days. Teachers, parents or caregivers might enjoy sharing this one on a cold winter's day or night and having youngsters guess what is making those scary sounds.
September 30, 2023
Blurb: Street Monsters, by Barbara Joosse, Kevin M. Barry, and Sleeping Bear Press, follows a child getting ready for bed when he hears monsters outside on his street. The child soon finds out these monsters are here to help and are actually street monsters - aka vehicles and equipment that transport people and help the city, including garbage trucks, buses, snowplows and more. This is a must read for young readers who love monsters and vehicles!
Heather Macht says: Joosse’s fun-rhyming text paired with Barry’s black and white illustrations (with pleasant pops of color!) is a unique real. Children will be delighted to find the true cause for sound and learn all about city vehicles and equipment in this surprising STEM-filled seasonal story!
Heather Macht says: Joosse’s fun-rhyming text paired with Barry’s black and white illustrations (with pleasant pops of color!) is a unique real. Children will be delighted to find the true cause for sound and learn all about city vehicles and equipment in this surprising STEM-filled seasonal story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2024
It’s time for bed and cozy dreams but something is keeping me awake, it sounds like monsters!
Join a brave little boy and his Papa as they grab their super hero capes and peek out the window to see what is making all the creepy, screechy noises!
From a noisy snowplow to a fiery public bus, these vehicles sound scary and loud but they are really just helping the city at night.
This is such an imaginative story, I’m sure most readers will relate to Street Monsters and how their own imagination sometimes gets a little wild!
The illustrations are so creative and detailed, I think this book may be a new bedtime favorite.
Join a brave little boy and his Papa as they grab their super hero capes and peek out the window to see what is making all the creepy, screechy noises!
From a noisy snowplow to a fiery public bus, these vehicles sound scary and loud but they are really just helping the city at night.
This is such an imaginative story, I’m sure most readers will relate to Street Monsters and how their own imagination sometimes gets a little wild!
The illustrations are so creative and detailed, I think this book may be a new bedtime favorite.
March 4, 2025
In this gorgeously-illustrated book, a child's imagination runs wild when he hears a variety of noises outside at night. However, a closer look reveals these "street monsters" are actually just a variety of vehicles going about their work in the wee hours.
The illustrations really are wonderfully creative (although, it saddened me to see the family cat roaming the neighborhood, especially on a winter's night--please bring him in!), and will capture the imaginations of kids who enjoy monstrous fantasy creatures. However, for especially sensitive kids, the imaginary monsters could be the source of some new nighttime worries.
The illustrations really are wonderfully creative (although, it saddened me to see the family cat roaming the neighborhood, especially on a winter's night--please bring him in!), and will capture the imaginations of kids who enjoy monstrous fantasy creatures. However, for especially sensitive kids, the imaginary monsters could be the source of some new nighttime worries.
September 2, 2023
3.5 stars
The scary night noises and lights a child sees are nothing more than the street monsters doing their night jobs - garbage trucks, street cleaners, buses and plows
The scary night noises and lights a child sees are nothing more than the street monsters doing their night jobs - garbage trucks, street cleaners, buses and plows
February 23, 2024
Found in L4L Volume 102
Read
October 7, 2024a rhyming story about trucks and vehicles
that "prowl" in the night to keep a city
clean and well-stocked
that "prowl" in the night to keep a city
clean and well-stocked
October 18, 2025
What a creative way to blend monsters and work vehicles and overcoming fears! It’s a win-win-win!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews