Monsters in the School

Joan Buchanan is a writer, storyteller and instructor and author of
Taking Care of My Cold.

If you need a humorous, fast-paced, and realistic short novel for seven-
and eight-year-olds, Monsters in the School is a good choice. Godfrey is
a prolific writer and former teacher. It is evident from the text that
the latter job has given him lots of opportunities to get to know the
fears, interests, and aspirations of elementary-age children.

The simple, believable plot spans several days in Selby’s life. Eight
years old and the youngest in the family, she is frustrated that her
sister, mother, and father don’t seem to listen to her. She finds a
way to get their attention with an idea that she got while playing in a
time machine belonging to her best friend, Eric. Unfortunately, Selby is
afraid of monsters lurking in closets, which leads to a bit of trouble.

Besides knowing what interests children, Godfrey also shows an
excellent ear for natural dialogue. Although not deep, the
characterizations are strong: Selby and Eric are credible best buddies.
The story is full of fun, and the author treats the difficulties of
being the youngest child intelligently. Some children may find
understanding in this book.

The book is also well illustrated: a great package!