FICTION

Frankenstein's Fright Before Christmas

by Rick WALTON
illus. by Nathan Hale. 40p. Feiwel & Friends. Oct. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780312553678.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—Frankenstein and his little monster friends are taking on Christmas in this follow-up to the Madeline-inspired Frankenstein: A Monstrous Parody (2012). Walton and Hale again combine their talents, taking on the rhyme scheme, rhythm, and plot of "The Night Before Christmas." "The monsters' bad manners had taken their toll./They'd lost their heads! They were out of control!" Miss Devel soon hears a clatter and who should appear at the castle door with a "CRASH" than little Frankenstein bearing a motley-decorated tree. Soon, Saint Nick arrives calling out to his reindeer, "On Whoozit, on Whatzit, and all of you others" and more chaos ensues. The watercolor digital illustrations in greens and red are a perfect match for this monstrously fun Christmas offering.—Diane Olivo-Posner, Los Angeles Public Library
[=Story by]Frankenstein: A Monstrous Parody spoofed Madeline; here the same team adds Clement Moore's classic into the mix. Eleven of the first book's twelve little monsters are "out of control"...and headless. But Frankenstein has an in with Santa's Head Elf (get it? Head Elf?), and Santa delivers just what everyone needs. Hale's green-tinted illustrations with red accents gleefully extend the irreverent rhyming text.
The team behind Frankenstein: A Monstrous Parody -- a spoof of Madeline starring Frankenstein's monster -- here adds Clement Moore's classic into the mix. Eleven of the twelve little monsters from the first book are "out of control." And headless. But Christmas miracles do happen -- even for badly behaved monsters and for "poor Miss Devel." Frankenstein has an in with Santa's Head Elf (get it? Head Elf?), and Santa delivers just what the monsters need. Hale's green-tinted illustrations with seasonal red accents (plus four full-color spreads) extend the irreverent rhyming text with glee. kitty flynn
Reviewed by Diane Olivo-Posner , Oct 01, 2014

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BOOKS

Maddie and Mabel Ready for Snow
by Allen, Kari
BOOKS

Welcome to the Woofmore
by Gephart, Donna & Lori Haskins Houran
BOOKS

Eleven Houses
by Oakes, Colleen
BOOKS

Don’t Let the Forest In
by Drews, CG
BOOKS

Summer Nights and Meteorites
by Reynolds, Hannah
BOOKS

A Vile Season
by Ferraro, David
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?