We Wish for a Monster Christmas

We wish for a furry monster,A big, hairy, scary monster,Our own stomping, chomping monster, for Christmas this year!   Dear Santa: please bring us a MONSTER for Christmas! This hilarious parody of the traditional carol stars two siblings who want something just a little more special than the usual toys for their Christmas gift. Mom and Dad refuse—so they appeal to a higher power: Santa. And since they’ve been good all year, he delivers. But having a monster in the house may not be all it's cracked up to be . . . as the kids discover when he turns their playroom to rubble and causes tons of trouble. Now, what will they do? Delighted readers will sing along with the merry song.

From School Library Journal

Gr 1–3—This narrative poem is intended to be sung to the tune of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," and it easily fits the familiar melody. Opening endpapers show various monsters as advertised in a catalog, with the one called Furzilla circled and accompanied by the words "This one! Love it!" A girl and her younger brother dream of all the fun they could have with their very own monster. When the suggestion is met with refusal from Dad, the siblings visit Santa, who assures them that since they've been good all year, it will be delivered. The promise is fulfilled, but of course, the monster wreaks havoc. The solution: put him outside. Furzilla adapts well to the backyard and even helps with some of the more arduous chores. Best of all, the kids still get to have fun with him. But that's no reason to not start thinking of what they want next Christmas—closing endpapers give a glimpse of the future possibilities. VERDICT A fun departure from elves for those who prefer monsters and monkeys. A good purchase for large collections.—Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library

Publishers Weekly

“The holidays don’t need much help to get chaotic, but one family is really in for it after two siblings ask Santa for a monster for Christmas. Reworking the lyrics of ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ with style (and lots of household destruction), Fliess contrasts the children’s joy about their new friend/pet with their parents’ less-than-thrilled reactions (‘Our mom took up meditation./ Our dad hollered in frustration./ But we had a celebration/ with monsterly cheer!’). In lively digital illustrations, Ranucci pictures the monster as an overgrown beast with lustrous red-orange fur, a spiky tail, and evident affection for the children, even as he inadvertently turns the house upside-down with his mess making. . . . the anarchic closing scene will leave kids laughing.”

closing endpapers give a glimpse of the future possibilities. VERDICT A fun departure from elves for those who prefer monsters and monkeys. A good purchase for large collections.”

“This narrative poem is intended to be sung to the tune of ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas,’ and it easily fits the familiar melody. Opening endpapers show various monsters as advertised in a catalog, with the one called Furzilla circled and accompanied by the words ‘This one! Love it!’ A girl and her younger brother dream of all the fun they could have with their very own monster. When the suggestion is met with refusal from Dad, the siblings visit Santa, who assures them that since they’ve been good all year, it will be delivered. The promise is fulfilled, but of course, the monster wreaks havoc. The solution: put him outside. Furzilla adapts well to the backyard and even helps with some of the more arduous chores. Best of all, the kids still get to have fun with him. But that’s no reason to not start thinking of what they want next Christmas

About the Author

Sue Fliess (pronounced "fleece") is the author of numerous children's books. Her picture books have been used as curriculum tools in schools and in museum educational programs. She has a background in copywriting, PR, and marketing, and her articles have appeared in O (Oprah Magazine), Huffington Post, Writer's Digest, Education.com, and more. She is thrilled that her Oprah Magazine article was chosen for inclusion in O's Little Book of Happiness. Sue has also adapted stories for the Walt Disney Company. She lives in Northern VA. Learn more about Sue at suefliess.com. Claudia Ranucci was born in Rome, but now lives in Spain. She runs a small Spanish publishing house in Madrid, and is also a designer and illustrator. Her illustration work has been published in France, Portugal, China, Japan, Korea, Mexico, and Brazil.

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