Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes by Henry, Josh, and Harrison Herz. Illustrated by Abigail Larson.

Re-imagining fairy tales has been going on since the invention of fairy tales, so it stands to reason that it was only a matter of time until someone did the same with nursery rhymes. Monster Goose does pretty much what it says on the cover. All the mini poems are rewritten to feature monsters of myth and legend.

This was a really funny book. Some of them were simplistic as was the case for “Zombie Rotten, Quite Forgotten” and “Hey Doblin, Doblin.” Others were clever like “Little Witch Muffett” and “This Little Hydra.” But most of them sounded like they were pulled from the universe of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

I thought that touch of the macabre perfectly in keeping with the roots of most fairy tales and at least some of the nursery rhymes that I’m familiar with. Additionally, there is a glossary in the back of the book detailing where each folkloric monster came from. I thought that was a nice touch. My only complaint is that I’d like a volume two.

The art is both adorable and grotesque with much caricature. I thought the style suited the rhymes nicely and that the warm color palette helped make it less gothic and more light hearted creepy-cute.

I thought Monster Goose entirely child appropriate as most of the children I know are intrigued by things mildly gross. It’s funny and the artwork is nice. I may use it as a book of writing prompts later whenever I rediscover this mythical thing called “spare time”. I really enjoyed reading it.

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