Marlow & the Monster is beautifully illustrated in black & white quill pen and ink, while portraying the monster in vivid color. Just as the Monster in the story is bright in its water colored hues, so.

It isnt your typical monster under the bed story and Marlow has a little more gumption towards his situation than most kids with roaring monsters keeping them up at night. For Sharon Cramer, a certified nurse anestehtist and mom of three grown children in the Pacific northwest, her book, MARLOW & THE MONSTER (Talking Bird Books, August 2012) says it all: monters don’t exist…or do they?! (image retrieved from 8.17.12) Cramer is the author and illustrator of three previous books: Cougar Cub Tales, a three-book series, but this is her first stand-alone title. Marlow and the Monster by Sharon Cramer reminds me of this each time I read the story to my son. Sometimes, all you need to do is look at it in a different way.By Leslie Lindsay (**See end of post for give-a-way information) (This contest is now closed, 8.21.12) What kid doesn’t fear the proverbial monster-under-the-bed? What parent hasn’t had to deal with that child who is just sure the monster slithered underneath the bed or into the closet the moment mom and dad pop in to investigate? That’s right: nearly all of us.

TALKING POINTS: Monsters – Are they necessarily scary? Do they have to be? Fun ideas on how children can imagine their monster moments as friendly moments. Everyone is afraid (or pestered) by scary things sometimes, even mom and dad. Even if youre different it doesnt mean that you. Each illustration takes Cramer between 30-40 hours to create, and she frequently works with “loops” to be able to see the ultra fine details that she renders so exquisitely. I gave the book to some wise 9 year olds and asked them what they thought of Marlow and the Monster. NetGalley helps publishers and authors promote digital review copies to book advocates and industry professionals. When asked why, Cramer responds, “Because–only the kids can see it–of course!” By the end of the book, little sister Sarah helps Marlow sees his monster in a very different light.

As a matter of fact, his monster has him in trouble with mom and dad fairly often! At his wits end, Marlow decides that the only prudent thing to do is to pawn the monster off on little sister Sarah.with interesting consequences! Marlow and the Monster quickly follows her recently released The Sneezy Wheezy Day, Marlow and the Monster is, in Cramer’s words, “My first trip onto the wild side!” The book is illustrated with quill pen and ink, and the only splash of color is the monster. In Marlow and the Monster, Marlow has a monster–a very pesky monster. What child doesn’t worry about the monsters they can (and can’t) see!