Penelope and the Monsters. (The Penelope series). Sheri Radford. Illustrated by Christine Tripp. Montreal, PQ: Lobster Press, 2005. 32 pp., cloth, $21.95. ISBN 1-894222-94-6. Preschool-grade 3 / Ages 3-8. Review by Patricia Fay. *** /4 Reviewed from f&g's.

Penelope and the Monsters is the second book in the "Penelope" series, and Sheri Radford and Christine Tripp have created another hit!

     This time, Penelope refuses to go to sleep ("...never, ever, not in a million trillion gazillion years...") because there are monsters hiding in her room. When her dresser drawers start to bang, she tells the monsters to go away.

"No monsters here," said a tiny voice from inside the drawer.

"We're not monsters. We're gnomes," said another tiny voice.

"Shhhhh. We don't want her to know that," said a third tiny voice.

"Aaaaahhhhh!" screamed Penelope.

     Penelope's father comes rushing in and checks for gnomes in the drawer. As soon as her father turns out the light and closes the door, the closet doors begin to rattle. This time, the monsters are trolls, but, when her father returns, there are no trolls in the closet. The story is repeated once more when her bed begins to shake. There are giants under the bed. By this time, dad has had enough and shouts from down the hall that there are no monsters.

     Finally, Penelope turns on the light and confronts the gnomes, trolls and giants, telling them they are not scary at all. They hold a meeting and leave the room without saying good-bye. The next night, Penelope's father's drawers begin to bang.

     The illustrations are exaggerated just enough to make them silly. Once again, Penelope's dog is included in every picture; children will love looking for him. The gnomes, trolls and giants try to look fierce but really aren't that scary.

     This story will appeal to children who worry about monsters and strange shadows at night. Penelope is a strong character who can and does stand up to these "monsters."

Recommended.

Patricia Fay, a teacher-librarian at Beaumont Elementary School in Winnipeg, MB, wonders what Penelope's next adventure will be.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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