The Monster Trap

Morrissey, Dean

ISBN 10: 0060524995 ISBN 13: 9780060524999

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2004

Synopsis

When Paddy goes on an overnight visit to his grandfather's, he thinks his grandfather's house is bigger and darker and spookier than he remembered. When things start to go bump in the night, Paddy is sure that he's hearing monsters. So Pop does what any grandfather would do -- he builds a monster trap.

The next night, the monster trap is set, baited with a delicious (to a monster) snack that Pop assures Paddy no monster will be able to resist. Paddy waits for a sign that the trap has snared a monster, but he soon discovers that the trap doesn't work in quite the way that Pop imagined.

Lavishly illustrated with Dean Morrissey's spectacular oil paintings, the monster trap will delight fans of his earlier works, as well as anyone who has ever wondered just what it was they heard under their bed or deep in their closet in the middle of the night.

About this title

About the Author:

Award-winning illustrator Dean Morrissey began his painting career in the 1970s. He always had story ideas for his paintings, and in 1990 he began writing and illustrating the highly successful children's book Ship of Dreams, a recipient of The New York Times, Best Illustrated Book Award in 1994. Infusing the pictures with texture, color, light, and weight, Dean Morrissey creates a compelling atmosphere for his stories.

Dean Morrissey lives on the South Shore of Massachusetts with his wife and son.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 2–Paddy is visiting his grandfather, the proprietor of "Pop's Place," a junk shop. After listening to "Monster Radio Theater," the youngster is sure he hears monsters downstairs, so Pop uses bits of junk to create a monster trap, baited with Limburger cheese and fruitcake. The next morning, the trap is empty, so they build a bigger, better one. Two incarnations later, they discover why they aren't catching anything–the bug-eyed, furry invaders are simply having too much fun treating the newest trap like a jungle gym. Paddy joins them, while Pop whips up a feast. Morrissey's dark illustrations capture the 1940s feel of the story, and the whimsical monsters will catch the eyes of kids. However, the story offers little suspense or excitement, and seems mostly an excuse to show off the fanciful illustrations of creatures and the contraptions that might catch them.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia
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About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0060524995
• ISBN 13: 9780060524999
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Morrissey Dean