School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Frankenstein and his little monster friends are taking on Christmas in this follow-up to the Madeline-inspired Frankenstein: A Monstrous Parody (2012). Walton and Hale again combine their talents, taking on the rhyme scheme, rhythm, and plot of "The Night Before Christmas." "The monsters' bad manners had taken their toll./They'd lost their heads! They were out of control!" Miss Devel soon hears a clatter and who should appear at the castle door with a "CRASH" than little Frankenstein bearing a motley-decorated tree. Soon, Saint Nick arrives calling out to his reindeer, "On Whoozit, on Whatzit, and all of you others" and more chaos ensues. The watercolor digital illustrations in greens and red are a perfect match for this monstrously fun Christmas offering.-Diane Olivo-Posner, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Walton and Hale, again collaborating under the pen name Ludworst Bemonster, return with a Christmas companion to their 2012 Frankenstein-meets-Madeline mashup, Frankenstein: A Monstrous Parody. Lumpy-headed little Frankenstein can't wait for Santa's arrival at Miss Devel's decrepit castle; he even drags a Christmas tree-ornamented with bats, snakes, and bones-in from the graveyard. When Santa Claus lands on the roof, it gives way, and he crashes unceremoniously onto the floor. But no matter, he's got gifts: new heads for the tiny monsters, who have been making do with toasters, cacti, fishbowls, and other off-kilter substitutes after literally losing their heads in the opening scene. Despite a muddled sequence of events once the presents are delivered, the book's wicked sense of humor will have mischievous readers cackling-Hale even manages to use the red-and-green Christmas palette to cadaverous effect. Ages 4-8. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
This pint-size Frankenstein's monster, last seen in the Madeline spoof Frankenstein: A Monstrous Parody (2012), returns this time to riff on 'Twas the Night before Christmas. Mad scientist Miss Devel is having a devil of a time with her little monsters they currently don't have any heads but her long night gets longer when Santa's sleigh crash-lands through the mansion roof. Out spills Santa's goodies: heads! But wait, the monsters put on the wrong heads oh no! But then they fix them hooray! OK, so the plot is wrapping-paper thin, but it's the Halloween-meets-yuletide specifics that make this a treat, with Walton cleverly updating the famous poem (She sprang from her slab to see what was the matter), and Hale's green-tinged comic art lending a jack-o-lantern goofiness. Dash away, dash away all, and check it out.--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2014 Booklist
