The Shadow Jumper and the Monster

Anne Hutchings is an elementary-school teacher-librarian with the Durham
Board of Education.

David is a compulsive shadow jumper. Shadows of trees, streetlights,
bird feeders, flagpoles—it matters not: David just has to jump over
them, twisting and turning. One day, he makes a complete revolution in
midair and a lettuce-eared, cucumber-nosed, green-scaled, moustached
monster appears.

Having a monster ready to carry out one’s every command has definite
advantages, David quickly discovers. The monster makes short work of
grouchy neighbors, surly dog owners, and demanding restaurant patrons,
and eventually helps David and his friends to persuade the mayor to
leave their woodland play area untouched and choose an alternative site
for his new housing development.

Despite its somewhat challenging vocabulary, The Shadow Jumper and the
Monster would be a good choice for late primary- or early junior-grade
readers looking for a “chapter book”; its blend of humor, fantasy,
and adventure would definitely appeal. For teachers on the lookout for
stories exploring “shadows” themes, this book would be a perfect
read-aloud. Recommended.