Monsters

John spends most of his time drawing monsters of all shapes, sizes and colors, and his parents are worried. When their son begins devoting himself to a master project--drawing parts of a ``serious'' monster on big sheets of brown wrapping paper--Mom and Dad pay a visit to John's teacher. He seems to think that there's no cause for concern, since ``boys are naturally a bit monstrous.'' Unappeased, the couple then consults a doctor, who wants to have a little chat with John. The doctor makes the mistake of providing the boy with more wrapping paper and markers so that he can finish his masterpiece. It soon becomes clear that John's passion for drawing has grown to monstrous proportions and that his parents' fears were justified. Hoban and Blake bring John's monsters to life in this subtly wicked story, which may give imaginative youngsters a specific--and horrific--goal. Ages 6-9. (Sept.)