Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Silver Falls Library | JP BERGER | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Library | E BER | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Stayton Public Library | E BERGER | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
The perfect cure for a cranky kid, illustrated by the #1 New York Times bestselling and Caldecott-winning artist, Dan Santat. BEWARE OF CRANKENSTEIN! He's a little monster of crankiness that no one can destroy! MEHHRRRR !!! He may look like any ordinary boy, but when faced with a rainy day, a melting popsicle, or an early bedtime, one little boy transforms into a mumbling, grumbling Crankenstein. When Crankenstein meets his match in a fellow Crankenstein, the results could be catastrophic--or they could be just what he needs to brighten his day! This hilarious and relatable tale of grumpiness gone awry will turn toddler tantrums to giggles in no time. Don't miss the other books about Crankenstein!
A Crankenstein Valentine
Trick or Treat, Crankenstein
Author Notes
Samantha Berger has written picture books including Crankenstein, A Crankenstein Valentine, and Trick or Treat, Crankenstein; What If..., Rock What You Got, Snail Mail, and Martha Doesn't Say Sorry, which won a Parent's Choice Award Honor. When she isn't writing, she's doing voice-overs, traveling the world, and helping rescue dogs. Samantha splits her time between New York City and California.
Dan Santat is the author and artist of the Caldecott Award-winning The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend , as well as the New York Times bestsellers Are We There Yet? and After the Fall . He has also illustrated many titles including Drawn Together (also by Minh Lê), The Alphabet's Alphabet (by Chris Harris), No More Poems (by Rhett Miller), and the Crankenstein series (by Samantha Berger). Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and two dogs. He can be found online at dantat.com.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-The bedroom looks like it belongs to an average boy: scattered checkers, model trucks, and a baseball on the floor; tiny action figures near the alarm clock on the night table; and a monster-face lamp grinning its terrible grin. well, okay, maybe the lamp is a tip-off. When the blanketed figure on the bed is roused by a hearty, "Good morning!!" his startled face is green and goggle-eyed, and his only comment is, "MEHHRRRR!" Crankenstein's eyes bulge dangerously yellow over a stack of pancakes when the syrup bottle is empty. His green and awful face is reflected in a pool of water on a rainy day, and it leers disgustedly when approached by a dripping, garish red spoonful of Dr. Giggles cough syrup. It seems as though everything turns a boy into a Crankenstein. Will the creature ever turn from "MEHHRRRR!" to merry? Youngsters will roar along with Crankenstein through this silly and sympathetic story of grumpy-grouchies. Santat's striking digital illustrations, generous in size, have hilarious details that will inspire repeated readings.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Berger's (Martha Doesn't Share) sardonic riff on bad moods involves an unnamed narrator (Crankenstein's parent, clearly) describing scenarios that turn an average boy into a drooling green monster. Berger's writing is sharp and funny to begin with, and Santat's (The Three Ninja Pigs) polished, klieg-lit spreads bring the energy over the top. "Have you seen Crankenstein?" the narrator starts innocently, as someone under the covers ignores the morning sun. "Oh, you would totally know if you had," the narrator continues, as the quilt gets yanked away and the boy desperately shields himself against the light. "You would say, 'Good morning!! How are you?' Crankenstein would say, 'Mehhrrrr!' " School mornings drive Crankenstein to his knees; icy Halloweens leave him shivering in his robot costume; melting popsicles and long lines drive him wild. Santat's faux-airbrush style excels in capturing the beating rays of the sun and the eerie blue of the television screen. Not until Crankenstein meets a kindred spirit does his mood improve. Expect many re-read requests from Crankensteins who may (or may not) recognize themselves. Ages 3-6. Author's agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. Illustrator's agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Sometimes -- when you have to go to school, when you have to take cough syrup -- all there is to say is "MEHHRRRR!" The life of the little guy depicted here seems to be one unfortunate event after another, and he responds accordingly, if repetitively. This is a No, David! for slightly older kids, with intense but comical close-ups of a toddler's enraged face, turned Frankenstein-green for that festive Halloween touch. The ending is a sop to parents, as the boy meets a friend and his rage (and green skin) turns peaceable -- but never fear, the monster still lurks within, bwah-ha-HAH. roger sutton (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Whoa. Be prepared for the intense frustrations, the moody outbursts and the green scowls of Crankenstein. Berger, who must be writing from direct experience with such a fellow, wryly informs readers what to expect. When offered a huge stack of pancakes with only the last small drop of syrup, Crankenstein's reply is an angry "MEHHRRRR!!" A similar response comes when it is "time for school" or "when it's WAY too hot for Popsicles" or "whenit's bedtime." Santat brilliantly utilizes Adobe Photoshop to zoom in on every extreme facial expression and clenched fist that conveys the barely contained anger and leads to the eventual unleashing of Crankenstein's fury. Each setting reveals sly comic elements that both kids and their grown-ups will appreciate. Readers will laugh out loud at the monster's seemingly over-the-top reactions and relate to the many tantrum-provoking situations. Being forced to swallow gross cough syrup? Waiting forever in line for anything? In the end, only a fellow Crankenstein can jolt him back to normalcy. Perhaps such extreme behavior is truly funny when spotted in another. Get ready to read this aloud a lot. (Picture book. 3-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
There's plenty to be cranky about out there in the world, even or maybe especially if you're a kid. As envisioned by Berger (Martha Doesn't Share!, 2010) and Santat (Sidekicks, 2011), such events are enough to produce a literal monster. Faced with the slings and arrows of early wake-up calls, miserly Halloween candy givers, melting Popsicles, long lines, cough syrup, and bedtime, the fearsome Crankenstein can only respond with a baleful look and a groaning MEHHRRRR! The only possible cure for such terror? Laughter, naturally, which comes along with play and friendship and puts a total, if temporary, kibosh on the crankiness. The premise plants an amusing seed, which Santat's art brings to full, glowing life, in giant two-page spreads alternately blazing with or darkened by appropriate digital hues. The size of the faces matches the size of the emotions, and Santat's gift with exaggerated expressions ensures that this monster, in the tradition of all the greats, inspires sympathy as well as fear.--Karp, Jesse Copyright 2010 Booklist