Glad Monster, Sad Monster: 04/03/09

Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Anne Miranda and illustrated by Ed Emberley teaches about emotions and the things that can trigger them through this colorful and interactive book. Each page has a color coded monster (often times in a color associated with a given emotion) who is feeling a certain way. To add some silliness into the reading experience, each monster page also has a mask for either the child or the parent to try on and act out the emotion.

I personally am not normally keen on these forced interactive experiences but hey, it has Ed Emberley's illustrations and I've been a fan of his since I was about two. His monsters are colorful, primal and easy to draw (a plus for my son who is into drawing monsters).

Despite my own reservations about putting on a mask an acting the part of a monster, my two kids think the book is hilarious. Fortunately for me, they much prefer taking turns putting on the masks then having me do it, leaving me to read the book and do the monster voices. Pretty soon I might be out of the monster Foley business, though, as Harriet is developing quite a repertoire of voices and sound effects.

In terms of plot, there is none. It's just a series of color coded monsters and their emotional states. For a quick and silly book to get kids involved it's a good start. The book also has a convenient envelope in the back to hold the masks.

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