The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Stine, R. L.

The Little Shop of Monsters

40 pp. | Little | August, 2015 | Trade ISBN 978-0-316-36983-1 $17.00

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Marc Brown. A boy (reluctant) and a younger girl (more daring) view the Little Shop of Monsters' merchandise, from the Snacker (favorite treat: hands) to the Sleeper-Peeper (hides under beds). The clever ending twist will have readers quickly turning the last pages ("Phew! You just escaped!"). Stine's direct-address text is pitched for delicious thrills and chills, while Brown's cheery palette and over-the-top monsters offset the terror just enough.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2015