Monsters 101

Readers who have completed Atkinson’s previous introductory “course,” last year’s Unicorns 101—or anyone else intrigued by monsters—can pick up some knowledge from this tongue-in-cheek breakdown of what the creepy creatures are really like. In a numbered series of bold, animation-flavored picture book “chapters,” a team of monstronomy professors, including “bats and blood specialist” Professor Batula McFang and “goop whiz” Professor Blobbins, provide the names and distinguishing characteristics of various monsters, famous and less well known, as well as their daily doings (both weekdays and weekends), where they live, and what they eat (brains and sewage soup both make the gross-out menu). The consistently kicky images and the diploma readers earn by book’s end are entertaining enticements, and kids won’t want to miss the nuggets revealed in the chapter about monsters’ biggest fears. Ages 3–7. (Aug.)