Read an extract from “Monstrous Me: An Illustrated Guide to the Monsters Inside” by Alex Jeffries

I’m a monster. You’re a monster. Big and small, young and old, we are all monsters sometimes.

We all have hobbies and habits, rules and routines, and quirks and qualities that make us one-of-a-kind. It’s these endearing (and yes, sometimes irritating) qualities that ultimately make us human – even if we may seem a little monstrous on occasion.

From waking up on the wrong side of the bed in the morning to not flossing before returning to bed each night, each day presents us with plenty of opportunities to be monstrous, and it’s these monsters that are captured in Monstrous Me.

In Monstrous Me, all the funky feelings, horrendous habits and terrible traits we have are exemplified by silly and strange monsters.

Their stories, told in rhyming verse, capture their origins and shortcomings, their triumphs and downfalls, as we start to understand how such monsters came to be. Below are some examples of the monsters, along with a verse of their story. In Monstrous Me, each monster’s story will be 4-6 verses long.

Kids will gravitate to the silly sounds and strange names of each exotic monster, as they read the lyrical, rhyming stories of their origins.

Each monster has a gorgeous, full-color illustration that will delight kids of all ages. The whimsical, colorful creatures are a wonderful representation, and will convince everyone that it’s okay to be just a little bit monstrous.

In all, Monstrous Me will feature 40 illustrated monsters and their stories. With more monsters than hours in the day, you’re sure to find one to call your own. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the others:

Loch Fitness Monster – Who hasn’t let a bad picture ruin their day?
Gossip Pollinator – This flitting, ditzy monster lives to spread gossip from group to group.
The Snifflgeus – If you’ve ever refused to stay home when you’ve had the sniffles, you may be this baddie.
The Forgeti – He’s forgotten more names, numbers, and dates than he’ll ever know.
The Toldjaso – This patronizing parrot will remind you time and time again of what she knew all along.
The Late Night Snake – Who can avoid the siren song of the fridge’s white light?
Busy Body – To this monster, looking busy is a full-time job.
Chit-Chattacker – What lengths would you go to stop chit-chat and small talk?

From waking up on the wrong side of the bed in the morning to not flossing before returning to bed each night, each day presents us with plenty of opportunities to be our own monster. In Monstrous Me, the stories of these monsters are told in rhyming verse and capture their origins, shortcomings, triumphs and downfalls as we see that monsters aren’t so scary.
After all, they’re just like Monstrous You and Monstrous Me.