SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

May 23, 2012 by Betsy Bird

Top 100 Picture Books #62: Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley

May 23, 2012 by Betsy Bird   1 comments

#62 Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley (1992)
30 points

This book saved my sanity when I was babysitting my two year old nephew for a week, a nephew I really did not know well. The only time, while conscious, that he stopped crying was when I read this book. So I read it a thousand times, at least. For this reason, it will always, always have a place very near the top of my list. Thank you Ed! – Laura Reed

Fun to read. The die cut pictures often fascinate children. And this book makes for an easy flannel board or magnetic story. – Gina Detate

This was always a huge, huge hit. I often give it as a shower gift as it is such a good read aloud book for 3-5 year olds. Unlike many of my choices it is the pictures that are the focus here as the child is able to disassemble the potentially scary monster and make it go away all by herself. It deserves wide acclaim. – Christine Kelly

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

What kid empowerment! – Pat Vasilik

Empowerment is indeed the name of the game with this strange creation from Caldecott winning artist Ed Emberley.  In this book a big green monster is invoked.  As the die-cut pages are turned he appears, sharp white teeth and all.  But just as he’s at his most ferocious, the process reverses.  The text tells each part of the monster to go away and, with a turn of a page, go away it does.  When at long last the kid can say, “and don’t come back! Until I say so,” the monster has been exorcised, the child firmly in control.

It’s popular.  Ripped die-cut pages in libraries across the country can attest to that.  It even inspired sequels of sorts (Glad Monster, Sad Monster and Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug) though nothing can quite touch Big Green Monster’s fame and fandom.  It was also rereleased not too long ago with a new shiny, sparkly package, though the monster remains pretty much the same inside.

Booklist said of it, “Graphically playful and exciting, this picture book promises to jazz up any story time and to give individual children a measure of control over at least ‘one’ monster.”

I love the hand puppet aspect of this.

  • For my part, I’ve always liked it because the cover looks like Kilroy Was Here.
  • And yep.  It definitely has an app.

Filed under: Best Books, Top 100 Picture Books Poll

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Ed EmberleyGo Away Big Green Monster!

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

August 2012

The Top 100 Lists Are Nigh. Nigh, I Say! Nigh!

by Betsy Bird

August 2012

Fusenews: Look for the Girl with the Caterpillar Tattoo and She's Gone

by Betsy Bird

July 2012

Top 100 Picture Books Poll Results

by Betsy Bird

July 2012

Top 100 Picture Books #1: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

by Betsy Bird

June 2012

Top 100 Picture Books #2: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Gallery: The Art of the Picture Book Barcode 2022

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Press Release: Picture Book Summit Line-Up Confirmed

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Banana Fox and The Gummy Monster Mess | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

Continuing the Mock Newbery Process: Time for July Suggestions

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

by

The Classroom Bookshelf

by

The Yarn

Shark Week, Vanilla Ice Cream, and the Honda CRV: Bob Shea and Brian Won Team Up for ADURABLE

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Cover Reveal & Interview: UNEQUAL by Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau

Gene Luen Yang Wins Three Eisner Awards

Author Jim Murphy Has Died; Kaepernick, Scholastic Publishing Graphic Memoir; and More | News Bites

In Their Own Words: What Christine Day and Andrea L. Rogers Want You to Know

Black Nonfiction: Truth, Testament, and Good Trouble

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer Schultz says

    May 23, 2012 at 2:10 pm

    Oh, yes! This is definitely a favorite among our youth services staff and patrons. It’s a staple not only in my Halloween story time for my toddler group, but also for our family story time right before our town Halloween parade. Literally “fun for all ages!”

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2022


    COPYRIGHT © 2022