To engage in mildly risky behavior evokes giggles in a child who is protected all day and night. Testing boundaries and pushing them are a part of every childhood--Lehrhaupt and Forsythe turn this idea on its head.
So, why shouldn’t we open Lehrhaupt’s Warning: Do Not Open This Book!? The narrator tells the reader right away: “you don’t want to let the monkeys out.”
Of course, most readers won’t be able to resist the urge to turn the pages. I couldn’t. The result is an escalating melee, complete with monkeys of many kinds, toucans and even a giant alligator. In addition to causing overall mayhem, these mischievous creatures even take over the job of the illustrator! Be warned. Just when things get truly out of control, Lehrhaupt invites the readers to be part of the solution by setting a banana trap and catching the monkeys back in the book. My inner child just delights at such fun and humor. And my writer self just marvels at how a flat two-dimensional book can hold three-dimensional fun. While at the annual SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles this past month I heard that a lot of editors are looking for books that are “outside the box.” I can only conclude that this is the brilliance of Warning: Do Not Open This Book! Congrats to Adam Lehrhaupt and Matthew Forsythe on their summer blockbuster. What a splashy debut. Now, everyone go buy the book and giggle your way to defying the rules!
16 Comments
8/23/2013 06:54:03 am
Thanks for keeping us up to the minute on humor, Marcie. I am definitely checking out this book.
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Marsha Arnold
8/23/2013 06:58:43 am
I just went to my library site and see there's another book with the same title, published in 2006. Interesting. Sadly, Adam's book is not available there. Will look in the bookstore. 8/23/2013 07:03:23 am
Adam's book releases on August 27th! Fresh off the press. Four more days! 8/23/2013 07:39:37 am
Thanks for sharing this book. Just put it on hold at the library!
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8/23/2013 08:04:13 am
Can't wait for this to hit the shelves Marcie. Thanks for a great post. By the way, I'm stealing your adjective "splashy". Nice :-)
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8/26/2013 12:00:32 am
Steal away, Stephen. But BUY the book. Don't steal the book. :)
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8/23/2013 08:50:54 am
I really really want to read this book! How can one resist a title like that? Great review - and I loved the "monster at the end of the book" too.
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8/26/2013 12:01:33 am
Glad you want to take the risk and get the book. Enjoy those pesky monkeys!
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Pam Brunskill
8/23/2013 01:49:13 pm
Congrats, Adam! Thanks for posting, Marcie.
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Lori Mozdzierz
8/23/2013 09:46:18 pm
There’s a Monster at the End of this Book was a well read book in our house when my boys were little!!
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8/26/2013 12:03:09 am
Lori, read it to your boys...they might feel like they are 3 again! :)
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8/24/2013 10:37:28 pm
I remember enjoying There's a Monster at the End of this Book! This new one sounds like a lot of fun too. :)
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