Publisher Description

Monster may think he wants to be in a scary story, but then again . . . A hilarious return by the team that brought us Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise.

Our author would like to write a funny story, but his main character — Monster — has a different idea. He wants to be the star of a chilling, petrifying, utterly terrifying SCARY story. But scary stories . . . well, they can be very scary — especially for their characters! Particularly when they involve dark forests and creepy witches and spooky houses . . . Oh yikes and crikes, this is definitely not the scary story Monster had in mind! Maybe he wants to be in a funny story after all!

Author Biography

Sean Taylor is an author, storyteller, and teacher who has written more than twenty books for young children, including Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise, illustrated by Jean Jullien; A Brave Bear, illustrated by Emily Hughes; and Don't Call Me Choochie Pooh!, illustrated by Kate Hindley. Sean Taylor lives in England.

Jean Jullien is a graphic designer who works in a wide range of media, including illustration, photography, video, installation, and clothing. Originally from France, he now lives in London and regularly exhibits his work in both places.

Review

Underneath the light chills and thrills is an exploration of setting limits and feeling safe, handled with warmth and humor.
—Publishers Weekly

Jullien's illustrations are suitably creepy, but because the narrator tells Little Monster in advance what will happen with each turn of the page, they shouldn't be anything readers can't handle, and the jump at the end is a satisfying one. And after the final page, readers may just be asking along with Little Monster, "So, can I be in a story again tomorrow?"
—Kirkus Reviews

The bold-hued, digitally colored ink illustrations, which are very funny in spite of being scary, work well with the chatty text to create a dynamic that leaves readers and listeners eager to engage with the story.
—The Horn Book

The interactive nature of the text invites readers to imagine their own versions and how they would respond given the monster's choices. A fun premise, imaginative book design, and appealing illustrations make this book a terrific choice for spooky-themed storytimes.
—School Library Journal

This year, the new Halloween picture book you should take home to mummy is "I Want to Be in a Scary Story," by Sean Taylor... it's a hoot, and Jean Jullien's big-brush illustrations are as cute as a basket of werewolf cubs. Long before school forces them to learn a bunch of dead literary terms, you'll be teaching your little fiends about tone, dramatic irony and narrative structure.
—Washington Post

Review Quote

Underneath the light chills and thrills is an exploration of setting limits and feeling safe, handled with warmth and humor. --Publishers Weekly Jullien's illustrations are suitably creepy, but because the narrator tells Little Monster in advance what will happen with each turn of the page, they shouldn't be anything readers can't handle, and the jump at the end is a satisfying one. And after the final page, readers may just be asking along with Little Monster, "So, can I be in a story again tomorrow?" --Kirkus Reviews The bold-hued, digitally colored ink illustrations, which are very funny in spite of being scary, work well with the chatty text to create a dynamic that leaves readers and listeners eager to engage with the story. --The Horn Book The interactive nature of the text invites readers to imagine their own versions and how they would respond given the monster's choices. A fun premise, imaginative book design, and appealing illustrations make this book a terrific choice for spooky-themed storytimes. --School Library Journal This year, the new Halloween picture book you should take home to mummy is "I Want to Be in a Scary Story," by Sean Taylor... it's a hoot, and Jean Jullien's big-brush illustrations are as cute as a basket of werewolf cubs. Long before school forces them to learn a bunch of dead literary terms, you'll be teaching your little fiends about tone, dramatic irony and narrative structure. --Washington Post

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