No Monster Here - Written by Colleen Thomas, Illustrated by Alyssa Thomas

Why kids love Where the Wild Things Are and No Monster Here

Colleen — Mon, 17 May 2010 17:39:47 +0000

Books about monsters were always a hit in our childcare center and elementary school. Children and grown-ups loved sharing books that let us stretch our imaginations. In his book, Where the Wild Things Are , Mercer Mayer let Max journey to the land of the wild things and become their king. In our book, No Monster Here, Joey searches until he finds the monster. For Max, the task is to face the wild things and become their king. For Joey, the task is to discover where the monster is hidden. In both books, the boys have to do something. It’s not enough to just sit there.

This is the attraction of monster stories. In these books, children get to be the heroes and solve the problem. In fantasy, they face something bigger than they are and triumph. So books about monsters are fun and a way to be brave and solve a problem with the main character.

And, while these books are considered children’s picture books, they work for all ages because grown-ups still have that child within.

This is my favorite!

Tim — Sat, 15 May 2010 23:05:24 +0000

Here’s Georgia, showing us her favorite picture in her book, No Monster Here!

All Kinds of Monsters

Tim — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:08:52 +0000

There are wonderful monsters in our monster art gallery now. We’ve received art work through email and at events. On March 22nd, we went to Tremont Elementary in Dixon, CA. The students were wonderful. They talked about the book, sang the No Monster Here Song and drew their own versions of a monster. Check out their work in our monster art gallery.

Francie Dillon: Literature for Children class presentation

admin — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:38:37 +0000

Last November, Colleen & Tim presented to professor, storyteller and singer, Francie Dillon’s Literature for Children class at California State University in Sacramento.

Francie Dillon (right) leading a class discussion.

We read the book to the class and spoke about the process of creating No Monster Here from concept to print and the unique collaborative relationship between the writer Colleen and illustrator Alyssa. It is rare when an author gets to not only choose their illustrator but work directly with them. This is one of the benefits of publishing a book yourself and we feel this collaborative approach is what helps make No Monster Here unique. It also allowed for Colleen and Alyssa to creatively weave educational concepts into the book.

We had a book give-away for students and passed along copies of our monster art project for them to use in their classrooms.

Colleen Presenting to the class. Literature for Children is televised on Sacramento Public Television as a part of their free education series.

Alyssa’s first book reading

alyssa — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:53:05 +0000

Alyssa reading to the children at Marian University preschool in Fond du Lac, WI.

Coloring!

Color Crayons

Finished Monster Art!

Last week we had Alyssa’s first couple of book readings of No Monster Here. She did two readings at the Marian University preschool in Fond du Lac, WI and then three readings at the UW Oshkosh preschool. “It was such a fun experience reading the book to the 2-4 year olds. They were really interested and excited about the book which made me really happy. All of them were looking for the monster. Too darling!” said Alyssa. Afterwords we did an activity with the kids where they got to draw what their idea of a monster is. They all had such great ideas. One kid drew a monster with 10 eyes, and another drew a monster holding a jar of mustard. Heh heh, craziness. We’ll share some more of their drawings soon in Monster Art.

Before No Monster Here

alyssa — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:21:41 +0000

In 2000, Alyssa Scholz Thomas and Andrea Learn created a stop motion animation entitled “Jacob’s Monster” for their animation class at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

Jacob’s Monster was based on the story “Charlie and the Monster”, written by Colleen McGarvey Thomas, which was the inspiration for what No Monster Here is today.

Story by: Colleen McGarvey Thomas
Animators: Alyssa Thomas, Andrea Learn

Jacob: Hailey McGarvey
Joey: Taylor McGarvey
Monster: Jon Thomas

Bella Bru Event

alyssa — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:00:14 +0000

Bella Bru sponsored a No Monster Here event this week and made special monster cookies for the kids. They look yummy! What do you think?

No Monster Here on my mind

alyssa — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:42:38 +0000

Today Alyssa finished up designs for the activity cards that go along with the No Monster Here Pre-orders. Everyone who pre-orders the book before Nov 1st will get a set of cards. And after that we’ll be selling them as little card sets in the store. Whaja think?

Creative Endeavors Event & Book Pre-order signings

alyssa — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:24:19 +0000

Colleen was at “Creative Endeavors – Children’s Art Studio” this past weekend for a No Monster Here event. They did a book reading and an art activity with the kids. Lots of fun!

Colleen and Alyssa also spent a some time autographing books for those of you who pre-ordered. Look for your book in the mail early November!

No Monster Here First Edition Completed

admin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:34:10 +0000

Hear ye! Hear ye! No Monster Here is ready for reading. Our first edition book is complete and we will be ready to start shipping out copies November 1st.

Each box is 35 books. Here's a finished one.

Boxes of the books all wrapped up and ready to be shipped.