Nothing to Fear Here

Have you ever been deathly afraid of something only to realize in the end that there was really nothing to be afraid of? In the endearing Sesame Street book "The Monster at the End of This Book," Grover is distraught because the title of the book says there is a monster at the end of the book. With each passing page, he becomes more and more determined to keep you, the reader, from getting closer to the end of the book. He tries taping the pages together, putting in a brick wall, groveling...but we of course ignore him. Our curiosity overcomes our inclination to heed Grover's warnings. The suspense builds...and we and Grover are in for a big surprise when we actually reach the last page!

I grew up with this book, reading it many times over until the binding cracked and the pages were quite rumpled. The pictures are lots of fun, and the idea that you are actually interacting with Grover the entire time makes this book one of a kind. Any child who likes Sesame Street will love this book. Not only will it entertain them, but it will also help them understand that sometimes we are afraid of things needlessly.

If you enjoy this book, check out other Sesame Street books, especially the sequel to this one...I think it's called "The Monsters at the End of this Book" and Elmo's in it. And for another Boogie-Man beater, try the Veggie Tales video "Where's God When I'm Sca-a-ared?" (see my review).