Books about monsters can be useful tools for parents while delighting children. These aren’t just books about silly and sometimes scary monsters they are about fear and conquering it. Just like how children use pretend play to test out adult situations and roles books offer kids a chance to test out scary things in a safe place. Most of these monsters aren’t scary but even the cute ones help your child feel bigger and braver. If you have a favorite monster book that you don’t see here please take a second and leave a comment with the title and why you love it.
Monster Mess! by Margery Cuyler is a silly rhyming book about a monster who isn’t interested in scaring you, but rather cleaning up your messes. Readers follow along as the monster creeps through the house finding messes and tidying up. I personally loved it when the monster stepped on blocks, who reading this with kids hasn’t stepped on toys like Lego and screamed in pain?! I know I do, a lot so that part resonated with me . The illustrations by S.D. Schindler are done at funky angles and perspectives and adds a lot to the text. It’s not scary at all and a great monster choice for more fearful kids.

Twelve Terrible Things by Marty Kelley is horrifying to me, yet my son loves this book. He must have slipped it in our library bag because I have no recollection of choosing this book, and I didn’t pre read it when we got home. By then it was too late, my son was hooked on the dark humor this book delivers. The book offers up 12 terrible things, like a scary clown, a goldfish on it’s way down the toilet and monsters under the bed. The illustrations are all from the reader’s view point so the scary things are looking right at you! I am easily scared , I can’t watch horror film trailers without getting nightmares. I screamed twice reading this , my son just wanted “more more!”. I really don’t recommend this book for young kids although some older ones who like scary things will love it.
My Monster Mama Loves Me So by Laura Leuck is more my kind of monster book for kids. Imaginative illustrations by Mark Buehner kept my little man pointing out spiders, bats and owls and he loved counting the extra eyes and arms on the monsters. The story is really sweet too. It’s all the things a mama monster does throughout the day with her little monster. It’s got a good message about how love can be an action as well as a feeling!
The Monster Princess by D.J. McHale is a story about a monster Lala who so wished she could be a princess only to discover in the end that being herself is even better. As I was reading this book I was really hoping that the three real princesses that befriend Lala would have more depth and not be the stereotypical mean girls that they are . Even after the mean princesses humiliate Lala she does the right thing and saves them when they are in danger. This book had a very predictable feel to it but I am 35 and have lived through mean girls on film many times and been on both sides of it in real life . To a young child this story is fresh and filled with good messages about doing what is right even when we are angry and hurt, discovering that what we dream about being may not be all it’s cracked up to be as well as my favorite message that there are “All kinds of special.”
The Book That Eats People by John Perry makes me laugh hysterically , so hard it was hard at times to read the words but it’s really really gruesome. This is not a book for kids that are squeamish, prone to imaginative nightmares or anxiety about death. That said if your child can handle a little funny horror, they will love this book. The story follows this human eating book as it wreaks havoc and gobbles people up! I beg parents to pre read this because it may be hilarious to me and my macabre little man but it may seriously frighten your child.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is one of those books that makes me cry just when I think of it. If you aren’t familiar with this book it’s not sad. It’s about a little boy who is acting up and gets sent to his room. While in his room his imagination runs wild and he is transported to a world where there are no rules , no parents and no consequences for bad behavior. Ultimately though Max’s heart pulls him back home where he is loved most of all, even when he’s wild. I think this is an amazing love story about parents and children and unconditional love.
Molly’s Monsters by Teddy Slater is a counting book in monster’s clothes. The book is about a little girl named Molly who is just trying to sleep when her room is flooded with monsters. They come in progressively larger groups and my son liked counting to make sure the text was correct. My favorite part was that the first monster to arrive and the last to leave , never does leave and instead snuggles into bed with Molly. I also like that to get these pesky visitors to leave she turns on the light and makes a scary face and scares them. Clever.
When a Monster Is Born by Sean Taylor is funny, my son didn’t find it as funny as I did but he still laughed and didn’t seem scared any of it. The story is about a monster and all the life changing choices he faces every day like whether to eat a principal or run through a wall of a school. This book feels like a choose your own adventure book, it’s fun , repetitive and silly. There is quite a bit of talk about monsters eating people , though nothing too gory.
Monster Math by Anne Miranda is a math lesson turned into a fun and entertaining storybook. You can simply read the book or you can have your little mathematician help you guess how many new monsters arrive and leave on each page. The illustrations are adorable and even if the math skills are above your toddler or preschoolers heads they will still enjoy the book.
Goodnight Goon: A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex. We loved this book, as big Goodnight Moon
fans we were all laughing reading this before bed. My almost 3 year old thought that this was the funniest book ever made and would correct the book often with the original text .
My Friend the Monster by Elanor Taylor is a sweet and not at all scary look at a friendship between a little fox and the monster who lives under his bed. The monster was left behind by a previous owner of the house that the little fox moves into. This is a sad monster but with a little time and patience the monster and the little fox make new friends and all is well. The monster even gets his own bed in the little fox’s bedroom so he doesn’t have to live under the bed anymore.
Go to Bed, Monster! by Natasha Wing is a book anyone who’s ever struggled with bedtime will instantly relate to. The little girl in the book Lucy isn’t sleepy so she draws a monster but soon his refusal to go to bed even after she is sleepy backfires. I like this book, and despite his refusal to believe the monster was a monster not a dinosaur my son really likes this book and it got read 5 times today!
Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters by Jane Yolen is a sweet monster book with minimal text and very rich illustrations by Kelly Murphy. The story is really about the daily wind down and bedtime for two monsters. You and your child will absolutely relate to them on one page or another ( or all). These little monsters are just like our little monsters resisting bedtime, trying to avoid baths – well you know the daily struggle. My daughter was not into the book but my son liked it even though I’d gear it towards the 2-4 crowd. We chose our favorite monsters on each page and found interesting details like the recipe for tentacle soup on the page where the mom is making dinner . Cute, your child will relate to it and it’s not at all scary!
Erin says
Ooh, I love these and I got a great giggle from Goodnight Goon! That’s one of my toddler’s favorite books, and this parody looks awesome. Definitely going in my Amazon cart.
FYI, I’ve included your post in Organic Baby Nook’s weekly roundup of the best posts from the last seven days. Cheers!
Tiffany says
You’re missing “The Monster at the End of This Book starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover”! That’s one I read to my little brother as a wee one, and I now read to my children.
Denise says
I’ve added a couple of these to my wish list, but you’ve left off “The Monster at the End of this Book” with Grover. I remember it from childhood and now it’s an excellent app.
Bethany says
Great list! I also like “the monster at the end of this book” very cute!
Mrs. Price says
Some of these look like fun. I’m not a Sesame Street fan, but “The Monster at the End of the Book” has always held a spot in my heart. My boys love that book as much as I do.
momandkiddo says
Good List. I love Ezra Stein’s Monster Hug.
Nina says
Thanks for your roundup! I always enjoy book recommendations.
Rachee says
I love this list!
Thanks for sharing.
How about Mordecai Gerstein’s The Absolutely Awful Alphabet?
It’s full of juicy words and just a great book.
-r
Merlin says
This is a great list. My son’s theme is monsters so now ill have to get these. You did leave off a great book called “I Need My Monster”. It’s a cute story about a boy and his monster.
Jake Dog Stories says
We love The Monster at The End of This Book! It was our first blog post, and continues to be a favorite.
We just published our own Halloween Monster book, titled I Want To Be a Monster. It is about a little girl and her mother debating trick or treat costume options.
Available on Amazon in ebook format.
http://www.amazon.com/Want-To-Be-Monster-ebook/dp/B009BT46B0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348534898&sr=8-1&keywords=i+want+to+be+a+monster
Angie says
Both of my sons have always really enjoyed “I’m Going to Eat You.” It’s a great pop-up book about a boy who is unphased by the many monsters he shares his house with but spends the story searching for something much more terrifying (his older sister).
Veronica says
Another great monster book is Mompers by Doreen Marts. It was just published on the iPad app, Storypanda Books. Mompers by Doreen Marts is a cute little tale about a little girl who sees monsters everywhere, but when she yells out her warning it comes out as “Mompers!” Everyone around her is confused and doesn’t seem to see the mythical monsters.
You can get Mompers on Storypanda Books: http://www.storypanda.com.
emily says
You need to add “the Gruffalo” to this list, it is an awesome monster book with a surprise ending!
Deanna says
I have a few more monster stories you might like (I loved the list), I’m Coming To Get You! by Tony Ross, There’s Something in My Attic by Mercer Mayer, and Clyde Monster by Robert L. Crowe
Allison McDonald says
Thanks!
Cindy Nielsen says
I’d like to add an oldie but a goodie: The Monster at the End of This Book featuring Loveable, Furry, Old Grover. My students LOVE it!
ana says
“Not now, Bernard” by David Mckee is my favourite and “There’s a monster in my house” (Usborne).
Paul Czajak says
This is a great list! Though you are missing one very important one, Monster Needs a Costume! But I will let it slide since it’s kind of new. But be sure to check out Monster Needs to Sleep in April.
Devra Nitzsche says
You’ll have to check out “Frank was a Monster who wanted to Dance.” Its my favorite book next to My Monster Momma Loves me so. I have it memorized 🙂
Allison McDonald says
That sounds RAD!
Thea says
You should also check out the Monster & Me series from Scarletta Press. these are great! My son loves them!
http://scarlettapress.com/monster-series/
Anna Llenas says
Great!! If you want it, here’s another MONSTER for the list. A MONSTER COLORED by the emotions
http://www.annallenas.com/ilustracion-editorial/the-colour-monster-pop-up-uk.html#.VjNgsbShJu0
Glenn says
One more book for your list: “Monsters Do Ugly Things” by Mark Adam Kaplan.
I’m sure you’ll love it. http://www.monstersunbound.com/
Rayanna says
We love “pip and posy: the scary monster” by axel scheffler. It’s a great kids book anyway but i love that it shows every monster has a chink in its armour that can be used to defeat the fear it causes.
Diana says
Wow! Never knew there were so many monster books out there! Thank you and thanks for all the additional comments with resources! Another to add would be There’s a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer.
Rachel Gottlieb says
This is a great list, and all the ones added in the comments are great, too! A lot of these are classics (in my opinion), and they are some of my favorite books. I love that you included “Leonardo, the Terrible Monster,” because that is a terrific book that I think gets too overshadowed by the more popular Mo Willems books. I also love that you included “If You’re a Monster and You Know It,” by Rebecca and Ed Emberley, because it is a super fun book for kiddos, and the surprisingly few people know about that book.
But, I must add two books that are missing from the list that are absolutely wonderful books that children adore. They are perfect for reading with your children or for classroom/library story times. I say this as a parent and as an elementary school librarian. You are missing out if you do not check out these titles:
“The Monsterator,” by Keith Graves (for Halloween)
“Quit Calling Me a Monster,” by Jory John (anytime)
They are both amusing and entertaining and super fun to read.