Synopses & Reviews
A foolproof recipe for fun! Take three favorite fairy tales, add monsters, stir well...and what do you get? Monster Stew, of course! This flavorful mix is packed with irreverent new versions of beloved stories. How does a girl monster impress a prince and his parents when she's invited to visit--and sleep on a tower of mattresses? What happens when Jack cuts down the beanstalk--and leaves the monster from the castle stranded on the ground? What does a witch do when two plump young monsters start eating her gingerbread house and home? With zany stories and lush, riotous illustrations, Monster Stew is a delightful dish for young readers.
Review
...A delightfully different picture book... Modarressi's stories are lively and funny and are sure to draw laughs from readers... Her illustrations, using the soft-toned colors for which she has become known, show the monsters as loveable -- if not always well-behaved-creatures. (Scripps Howard News Service Oct. 1998)
Review
A new slant on three familiar tales, featuring a cast of benevolent monsters . . . The humor is amplified by details of Modarressi's fully saturated watercolors. (Kirkus Reviews July 1, 1998)
Review
In this hearty three-course storybook, Modarressi assembles a cast of sympathetic monsters that trump their human acquaintances . . . . Modarressi's soft, padded-looking monsters have beady eyes and spiky fur, to be good-natured and kind. The sepia-tinged palette of terra-cotta orange, clay-like brown and ash green likewise communicates warmth rather than inspiring terror. Modarressi wittily champions monsters and wryly implies that it's people need to learn some manners. (Publishers Weekly, June 29th, 1998)
Review
Children familiar with the original stories will appreciate these retellings, and the bold illustrations make them perfect for story hour. (Booklist July 1998)
About the Author
Mitra Modarressi is the illustrator of Anne Tyler's Tumble Tower. Among the books she has written and illustrated are The Dream Pillow, The Parent Thief, and The Beastly Visits. She lives in San Francisco.