Poesy the Monster Slayer

by Cory Doctorow (Author) Matt Rockefeller (Illustrator)

Poesy the Monster Slayer
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

New York Times bestselling author Cory Doctorow and illustrator Matt Rockefeller present a sweetly scary picture book about a girl whose monster-catching activities delay her bedtime in Poesy the Monster Slayer. A monster slayer needs no bedtime! Once her parents are off to bed, Poesy excitedly awaits the monsters that creep into her room. With the knowledge she's gained from her trusty Monster Book and a few of her favorite toys, Poesy easily fends off a werewolf, a vampire, and much more. But not even Poesy's bubblegum perfume can defeat her sleep-deprived parents!

Select format:
Hardcover
$18.99

Booklist

Featuring energetic dialogue, an exciting plot, and a close-knit multiracial family, Doctorow's story is bolstered by Rockefeller's deliciously detailed, dark-but-glowing illustrations.

Kirkus Reviews

Poesy is irresistible with her brave, two-sided personality...Rockefeller's gently colored cartoon art enhances her bravery with creepily drawn night creatures and lively, expressive faces.

Publishers Weekly

Some children fear monsters at bedtime, but Poesy welcomes them. Her pink "monster lair" features gothic art and stuffed animals, and she makes her father read The Book of Monsters from cover to cover before lights out. "PLEASE stay in bed tonight," he pleads as he leaves, but there's no chance: the werewolf who soon enters her window is the size of a grizzly. "Werewolves HATED silver," Poesy knows, "and they feared the light"--armed with a Princess Frillypants silver tiara and a light-up wand, she vanquishes the beast. And that's just the beginning of her tear through monsterdom. "Poesy Emmeline Russell Schnegg," her mother growls from the doorway (in a funny turn, the girl gains a middle name every time a parent appears). Assured panels by Rockefeller (Pop!) combine frilly with threatening, illuminated by eerie light sources. Doctorow, making his picture book debut, strikes a gently edgy tone ("He was so tired," Poesy sees, "that he stepped on a Harry the Hare block and said some swears. Poor Daddy!"), and his blow-by-blow account races to its closing spread: of two tired parents who resemble yet another monster. Ages 4-6. (July)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes





Cory Doctorow

Cory Doctorow is a science fiction author, activist, and journalist--the co-editor of Boing Boing and the author of many books, including Walkaway, In Real Life, Information Doesn't Want to Be Free, a book about earning a living in the Internet age, and Homeland, a YA sequel to Little Brother.

Matt Rockefeller is an illustrator and comic artist who grew up in Tucson, Arizona and draws inspiration from its dramatic landscapes. His work has appeared in a variety of formats including animation, book covers, and picture books such as Pop! and the graphic novel series 5 Worlds. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his partner and a small dog that may or may not be a fox.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781626723627
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
First Second
Publication date
July 20, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV010000 - Juvenile Fiction | Bedtime & Dreams
JUV014000 - Juvenile Fiction | Girls & Women
JUV052000 - Juvenile Fiction | Monsters
Library of Congress categories
Bedtime
Picture books
Imagination
Parent and child
Monsters
Girls
Sleep deprivation

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!