Author: Lynn Fulton
Illustrator: Felicita Saal
Publisher: Penguin/Random House, 2018
Age: 5-12
Themes: Mary Shelley, horror writing, Frankenstein
Opening: Two hundred years ago, on a wild, stormy night in a beautiful house on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland, a young woman named Mary sat at her dressing table .
Summary: (from my library catalog) On a stormy night two hundred years ago, a young woman named Mary waited for inspiration. Her friend, the poet Lord Byron, had challenged her to write a scary story, but no ideas would come. Mary thought back through her life at the eerie things she had seen in her childhood and the losses she had suffered. But nothing was as scary as her own imagination. As she drifted off to sleep, she pictured something monstrous, a creature that was so frightening, people would run from it in terror. And when Mary awoke, she had her story. — adapted from cover flap.
I like this book because: it’s a delicately rendered, exciting telling of the creative impulse behind this world classic. So many layers and just eerie enough to entice readers to delve into the book themselves. (Sorry for the horrible glare in the photos – hope you seek out a copy to right my wrong!)
Resources/Activities: for the macabre-friendly: disassemble doll or action figure parts and reassemble, going your old toys new life – which can also be used for Halloween decorations.
For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
I have to find & read this – just finished the YA in verse Mary’s Monster (Lita Judge) which I loved. Would be so interesting to pair these.
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There is one more I have on hold that I am looking forward to, illustrated by Julia Sarda.
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Sounds like a very entertaining read!
Your resource ideas remind me of my son when he was 13. He removed the eyes from his big troll doll and rejigged it so that they glowed red at the flick of a switch. Very spooky! 🙂
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THAT is cool! He can count me as a new fan!
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I’ve got this one on hold! Can’t wait to see it!
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This is a challenge, to tell this story for a PB audience. I can think of several kids who would really connect with this material.
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I love that this story of the making of Frankenstein has been written for children. It might even surprise some readers to learn that Frankenstein was actually the scientist who created the monster and not the monster.
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Most of us carry our creators’ names!
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I’ve got this one on hold, too. Looks amazing.
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oh oh oh! I have got to get this one! Thanks for featuring! There are 7 holds on 8 copies at the San Francisco Public Library. Perhaps they need to buy more!!!
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This sneak peek is intriguing! I’m going to look for this one.
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I’ve got to read this book. I have never heard the story before! Great share!
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I’m fascinated with the sudden resurgence of Frankenstein and his author. I’ll look forward to reading this one, Julie!
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It’s the 200th anniversary!
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Definitely need this for my Halloween night read. Looks fun – and I love bios.
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Ooo! Good idea!
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Oh wow I must try and get this one. Frankenstein as a PB story, who’d have thought.
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