Frank the Monster

Gr 2-5–A fresh take on the werewolf theme for the younger set, this series starter from Swedish author Strandberg makes its U.S. debut. Friendless and lonely Frank Steen is bitten by his elderly neighbor’s dog on his ninth birthday and from then on, his nights are filled with mysterious adventures and eerie dreams. Appropriately, bookish Frank looks for answers at the library. Minerva the librarian introduces Frank to the secret that he’s a shape shifter and she is as well, turning from owl to librarian, and presiding over a secret home for other young monsters abandoned by their human families. An excellent bridge between transitional chapter books and novels, the chapters are short and Falkenhem’s striking black, white, and blue illustrations will engage reluctant readers. Some of the darker elements (Frank meets ghosts, kids who died by drowning) may be too much for younger elementary students who typically gravitate toward illustrated chapter books. The book ends with more questions than answers, a surefire way to get kids excited in the series.