The Monster Trap
PreSchool-Grade 2–Paddy is visiting his grandfather, the proprietor of "Pop's Place," a junk shop. After listening to "Monster Radio Theater," the youngster is sure he hears monsters downstairs, so Pop uses bits of junk to create a monster trap, baited with Limburger cheese and fruitcake. The next morning, the trap is empty, so they build a bigger, better one. Two incarnations later, they discover why they aren't catching anything–the bug-eyed, furry invaders are simply having too much fun treating the newest trap like a jungle gym. Paddy joins them, while Pop whips up a feast. Morrissey's dark illustrations capture the 1940s feel of the story, and the whimsical monsters will catch the eyes of kids. However, the story offers little suspense or excitement, and seems mostly an excuse to show off the fanciful illustrations of creatures and the contraptions that might catch them.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, ColumbiaCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.