Hidden away in a secret place is market known as the Monstore. Here kids can purchase monsters of all kinds to help with things like scaring away a younger sister. This is exactly what Zack wants, but it turns out his monster doesn't quite live up to the task. Since he can't return the monster, he has to settle for another ... who also doesn't work. Things get more and more out of hand as Zack keeps coming back for yet another monster, and no one has scared away his sister yet.

This is a funny book with lively, colorful illustrations. I could see it appealing to kids who like slightly creepy and definitely humorous works. The sibling rivalry story is as old as time, so that will also appeal to many children. Technically, you could read into it a disturbing narrative that selling and purchasing the monsters is essentially slave labor, but kids are far more likely to take it at the face value of a silly story with no harm meant. ( )

Determined to scare away his pesky younger sister, Zack visits the Monstore and brings home a big red creature named Manfred. Unfortunately, Manfred proves less than effective, sharing his hiding place with Gracie and taking her under his wing. Unable to return his purchase or obtain a refund - store policy! - Zack buys monster after monster, only to find himself foiled again and again. When he finally does discover what scares Gracie, his reaction is equally unexpected...

With its premise of a store for monsters, Tara Lazar and James Burks' Monstore reminded me a bit of R.L. Stine's The Little Shop of Monsters, although the respective story-lines of the two picture-books are otherwise quite distinct. A sweet tale of learning to accept one's annoying sibling is given a spooky and amusing new guise in Lazar's tale, while Burks' colorful artwork accentuates the madcap humor of the story. Recommended to those looking for somewhat gentler monster tales for the picture-book set. ( )

This was a very creative story, I do not believe I have ever read anything like it. ( )

sibling monster story - nicely done ( )

Having ‘met’ Tara Lazar on the Internet, mainly through her Picture Book Ideas Month (PiBoIdMo) challenge, I HAD to buy this book. The Monstore is her first published picture book and what a fantastic debut!

This picture book is gorgeous! Not only is it entertaining, it is full of delightful, colourful illustrations that cleverly keep the reader searching for more hidden little creatures. I admit I bought it for myself, but I shared some reading time with my eight-year-old grandson. We both had great fun (no exaggeration) making our way through the story and finding the many monsters peeking out of hiding places and making Zack’s life hilariously frustrating.

But who is Zack? Zack is a little boy who has a big little problem. His little sister is a big nuisance! Zack decides to devise a way to keep her out of his room since the “Keep Out” sign he stuck on his door didn’t do the trick.

Zack visits the candy store where there is a trap door with a secret knock that is required to let him in … into The Monstore! Once there Zack begins something he wishes he had never tried. He buys a monster to scare his sister, but that monster leads to another and another and … with No Returns No Exchanges No Exceptions … it is one monsterly problem for Zack! And a very entertaining adventure for the reader.

Tara Lazar‘s The Monstore is a wonderfully imaginative, brilliant story that – combined with fantastic illustrations by James Burks – captures one’s attention immediately. This is a book for not only the imaginations of four to seven-year-olds, but for everyone who loves a fun story filled with surprises. ( )