Go Away, Big Green Monster! [ハードカバー]

コールデコット賞受賞作家が、その独創性をみごとに発揮させた絵本。真っ黒なページに少しずつ浮かび上がる、大きなモンスターの恐ろしい顔――。最初のページを開くと黄色くて大きな2つの目、次のページには目と青くて長い鼻、そして、ついに現れるモンスターの顔。でも、それで終わりではない。「おまえなんか、ぜんぜん、こわくないぞ！」と、恐怖に顔をゆがめるのはモンスターのほう。さらにページをめくると、怖がるモンスターの顔から口や鼻がひとつずつ消えていく。もちろんモンスターも消えてしまう。「おれさまがいいというまで、もどってくるなよ！」というせりふを残して。声に出して読むととても楽しい、シンプルなストーリー。子どもたちを喜ばせるのはもちろんのこと、子どもたちの怖がりを克服するのにも役立つ。エンバリーのすばらしい創作テクニックが、新たなファンを大勢かち取ることは間違いない。3~8才児向け。

Caldecott Award-winning author-artist Ed Emberley has created an ingenious way for children to chase away their nighttime fears. Kids can turn the pages of this die-cut book and watch the Big Green Monster grow. Then, when they're ready to show him who's in charge, they'll turn the remaining pages and watch him disappear! This lavish reissue features dramatic die-cut eyes and sparkling foil on the cover.

The Caldecott Medalist makes wonderful use of innovative production techniques in this ingenious offering. Differently diecut and boldly colored pages reveal increasingly scary features of a big green monster--on the first spread, we see two big yellow eyes; on the second, the eyes plus a long blue nose; and so on, until the monster is fully unmasked. But that's only half the story. "You don't scare me!" reads the caption after the monster is shown in all its horror. Turn more pages and, one by one, the scary features disappear, as does, of course, the monster. "And don't come back! Until I say so," the text concludes. A joy to read aloud, the simple story entertains even as it helps its audience master common fears. Emberley's striking approach should win him new fans aplenty. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ed Emberley is the illustrator and author of over 80 books, including the bestselling Go Away, Big Green Monster! and his enormously popular "Drawing Book" series. He has received many awards and accolades, including a Caldecott Honor in 1967 for One Wide River to Cross and a Caldecott Medal in 1968 for Drummer Hoff. Ed Emberley lives in Ipswich, Massachusetts, with his wife, Barbara. You can visit him online at www.edemberley.com.