Like in many rural, single-parent households of the 1970s and ’80s (or, as my own kids refer to it, the late 20th century), I didn’t exactly grow up with a lot. However, my mother did strive to ensure that I always had three very important things: her love, her attention, and books.
Some of my earliest memories are of our regular shared reading time, and from the works of Dr. Seuss to the novelization of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial—even in 1982, going to the movies was a little out of our price range—I quickly learned that worlds beyond measure were always only a page turn away.
A perennial favorite, and one that I read to my own children early in their lives, was Little Golden Books’ classic The Monster at the End of This Book: Starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover. Originally published in 1971, this picture book sees the terrified Sesame Street regular doing everything in his power to prevent the reader from turning the pages, only to discover that he, Grover, was the monster in question the whole time.
Two sequel books were produced by original writer Jon Stone and illustrator Michael Smollin, Would You Like to Play Hide and Seek with Lovable, Furry Old Grover? in 1976 and Another Monster at the End of This Book: Starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover, and Equally Lovable, Furry Little Elmo some two decades later.
Now, just in time for Mother’s Day, the series has been revisited. The Momster at the End of This Book, written by Brittany McInerney with illustrations from Helena Wu, puts a maternal twist on the classic literary conflict of monster vs. himself.
This time, obviously, there is a momster at the end of the book, but what is a momster? Grover is determined to find out. But not because he’s afraid or anything…
What follows is another enchanting tale from the streets of Sesame. Our neurotic, blue-furred host learns that a momster can be many things. A momster can be kind, like Cookie Monster’s mom, busy and maybe a little messy like Maggie Cadabby, and brave like Elmo’s mother, Mae.
Momsters often run in packs, relying on the support of their own. A momster can be nocturnal, working well into the night. In fact, a momster can be many, many things. To borrow a phrase from ol’ Walt Whitman, a momster contains multitudes.
In true Grover fashion, we arrive at the end of this particular book to learn that it is none other than his own momster awaiting us on the last page—a very special mommy that he knows is “brave, kind, silly, strong, fast, hungry, messy, lovable, furry, and fun.” Just like a momster should be.
A joyous, sweet, and easy read with bright, beautiful pictures that evoke the original, The Momster at the End of This Book is the perfect thing to share with your little ones or your own momster this Mother’s Day weekend. It’s a celebration of community, resilience, and the kind of profound emotional connection that both loving parents and Sesame Street are known for.
So, go ahead and turn the page. You’ll be glad you did!
Review materials provided by Chronicle Books. This post contains affiliate links. You turned the page!
