Published by Charlesbridge
Summary: Alfred loves looking at the terrible creatures in his monster book, like the Nixie and the Black Shuck. What he doesn’t love are the delightful tea times his aunty provides every day. Finally, Alfred hits upon a solution. He writes a letter, puts it in an envelope, and leaves it at the entrance of the town cemetery. The next day, there are a few additional guests for tea, “And they all had a terrible time.” The last page shows a dazed and disheveled aunty and a smiling Alfred, still reading his book. 32 pages; ages 4-8.
Pros: Hand this to those kindergarteners who ask for a scary book. The illustrations have a gothic feel to them, and Alfred is a worthy successor to Where the Wild Things Are’s Max.
Cons: I would have enjoyed seeing more than three monsters from Alfred’s book.
