Perfect Picture Book Friday: TRAVEL GUIDE FOR MONSTERS Plus Giveaway

Posted on April 10, 2020 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends.

I am so thrilled to bring you a GREAT new picture book that launches in just a couple of days. It’s written by a dear kidlit friend of mine, one of my picture book idols, author Lori Degman. I was in Chicago in February…BC (Before Covid-19)…and Lori and I met for a wonderful dinner…last year, she came to my book launch of Sweet Dreams, Sarah, at the Andersons Bookstore in La Grange. And because she is such a sweetheart, she is offering a GIVEAWAY of a copy of TRAVEL GUIDE FOR MONSTERS!

Travel Guide for Monsters

TRAVEL GUIDE FOR MONSTERS

Written by Lori Degman

Illustrated by Dave Szalay

Published by Sleeping Bear Press (2020)

Ages: 5-8

Themes: Monsters, traveling, geography of the US

Synopsis: From Amazon:

Taking your monster on a road trip this summer? Or letting your favorite beast tag along on a family beach vacation? Wherever you and your monster are traveling, Travel Guide for Monsters is full of essential tips to help you both enjoy the sights from coast to coast–and avoid monster-related mishaps.

And two fabulous reviews:

Buckle up and get ready for a rollicking road trip with merry monsters. This cast of joyful monsters in bright colors with myriad different sizes, shapes, facial features, and appendages is guaranteed to make young readers giggle. –Kirkus Reviews

Degman has compiled a monstrously fun adventure that takes readers across the country, from California to New York. This silly how-to offers tips and tricks for traveling with (friendly) monsters, so that kids can make the most of their trip. Page after page of brightly colored illustrations put the monsters on hilarious display, and a map at the book s end shows all the stops on this outlandish road trip. A must-bring for any family road trips or vacation adventure. –Booklist

Why I love this book:

Love the rhyme…love the rhyme…love the rhyme – Lori is a master rhymer!
Fabulous illustrations bring us from coast to coast and are real page-turners!
Filled with humor!

RELATED ACTIVITIES:

monster-main Photo courtesy: https://www.playideas.com/25-crazy-monster-crafts-kids/

WOW…what kid wouldn’t want to make some of these fabulous monster crafts! For detailed instructions: https://www.playideas.com/25-crazy-monster-crafts-kids/

And map-making might also be a great activity to extend the learning.

hp_mappingskills Photo courtesy: https://www.readingrockets.org/article/map-making

For an article on the importance of map-making for kids and lesson plans: https://www.readingrockets.org/article/map-making

I hope you are all staying safe…and keeping busy. And if you are #ShelteringAt Home with the kiddos, I hope that the activities suggested in these Perfect Picture Book posts will help. For more picture book recommendations and activities, please visit Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday page.

And to help support our favorite authors and illustrators and indie bookstores, please

Buy their books
Review their books
Tell friends about their books
Ask your local library to purchase the books for their collections

Please make sure you leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway…one lucky person will win a copy of TRAVEL GUIDE FOR MONSTERS. Those monsters certainly visited lots of places in the US. Why not tell us what your dream vacation would be.

46 thoughts on “Perfect Picture Book Friday: TRAVEL GUIDE FOR MONSTERS Plus Giveaway”

Julie Didlick on April 10, 2020 at 3:17 am said:

Fantastic cover.

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:05 pm said:
  
  I agree – Dave’s illustrations are the best!
  
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Mary Warth on April 10, 2020 at 8:36 am said:

Thanks for featuring this book. It looks like a fun one!

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:06 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Mary!
  
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Leslie Leibhardt Goodman - Writer on April 10, 2020 at 8:47 am said:

I heard about Lori’s book a number of months ago and made a note for myself to keep checking to see when it’s published. I’m glad you featured it today along with some perfect activities.

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:06 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Leslie! I love the activities!
  
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Beth Charles on April 10, 2020 at 9:03 am said:

This book looks like so much fun! What a great concept. Thanks for the sneak peek Vivian and Lori!

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:07 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Beth! I owe the idea to Colin Jack, the illustrator of my first book!
  
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Kathy Halsey on April 10, 2020 at 9:19 am said:

Hi Vivian, I got a sneak peek of this book as illustrator Dave Szalay is an Ohioan who visited my indie bookstore in Columbus. I’d love to win this book.

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:08 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Kathy! I remember you telling me you heard Dave read it!
  
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Becky Scharnhorst on April 10, 2020 at 9:19 am said:

When I first read about this book, I thought it was one of the most unique concepts I’d ever heard of. I’m so glad I won’t have to wait much longer before reading it. Thanks for featuring it, Vivian!

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:09 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Becky! Colin Jack, the illustrator of my first book, gave me the beginning idea for this book!
  
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csheer18 on April 10, 2020 at 9:58 am said:

Looking forward to this one, for Lori’s RV-like road-trip theme(being an avid RV-er!) and rhyming text, plus illustrations by Dave Szalay AND MONSTERS, too! What a combination! Thanks for highlighting this one, Vivian!

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:10 pm said:
  
  Thanks! I love the VW camper van Dave put on the cover!
  
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Amy M. Miller on April 10, 2020 at 9:58 am said:

I cannot wait to read this book!! I love monsters and the concept is so fun and fresh. Thank you, Vivian & Lori!

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:11 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Amy!
  
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rosecappelli on April 10, 2020 at 10:59 am said:

Wow! This looks like such a fun book. And I agree, Lori is a master rhymer!

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:11 pm said:
  
  Awww, thanks so much, Rose!
  
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Arlene Schenker on April 10, 2020 at 11:03 am said:

Just looking at the cover of this book makes me smile. Thanks, Vivian.

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:11 pm said:
  
  I know – me too, Arlene!
  
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David McMullin on April 10, 2020 at 11:14 am said:

I can’t wait to see this book. Lori is wonderful and this book looks like so much fun!

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:12 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much, David!
  
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Lynne Marie on April 10, 2020 at 11:24 am said:

This book looks like so much fun — I can’t wait to vacation with monsters!

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:12 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Lynne Marie!
  
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Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner on April 10, 2020 at 12:19 pm said:

So clever! Congratulations and wishing you a bazillion in sales, Lori and Dave 🙂

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:13 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much, Donna!
  
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Jilanne Hoffmann on April 10, 2020 at 1:16 pm said:

I laughed out loud at your use of the term “BC,” Vivian! I love the premise of this book, and how wonderful for Lori to offer it as a giveaway! Your activities are great! We were always fans of making maps in our family. Cheers! And please stay well!

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:14 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Jilianne! Dave drew a cute map at the end of the book – I think you’ll love it!
  
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rindabeach on April 10, 2020 at 1:21 pm said:

I love this book, and so will kids! Who doesn’t love a good monster story?

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:15 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Rinda!
  
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Mary York on April 10, 2020 at 2:18 pm said:

I love Lori’s rhyming books! This would be a great addition! Congratulations, Lori. I went to one of your workshops at the Loft in Minneapolis!

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:16 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Mary – and thanks for going to my workshop!
  
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Pamela Harrison on April 10, 2020 at 2:41 pm said:

What a fun picture book! I love the shared activities that make it even more fun. Congratulations, Lori and Dave, and thanks you, Vivian, for sharing!

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:17 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Pamela!
  
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Danielle Hammelef on April 10, 2020 at 4:03 pm said:

A road trip and vacation sounds so wonderful right now. I’d want to travel to the National Parks and explore each one. Thanks for the post and fun activities too.

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:17 pm said:
  
  I agree, Danielle – I’d love to go to the National Parks right now!
  
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Ashley Congdon (@AshleyCCongdon) on April 10, 2020 at 4:33 pm said:

That’s such a great image of the monster popping out of the van.

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:18 pm said:
  
  I know – I love it too, Ashley!
  
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Lynn Rogalsky on April 10, 2020 at 5:05 pm said:

What a cute and fun picture book! I love friendly monsters too. My dream vacation is always the Jersey shore, where my parents and family always spent many fun-filled weeks! Thank you Lori and Vivian for this giveaway opportunity!

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- loridegman on April 10, 2020 at 5:19 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Lynn! My husband’s family was from New Jersey and he spent part of every summer at the Jersey shore growing up!
  
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Maria Marshall on April 10, 2020 at 7:10 pm said:

Fun book & great activity.

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Jennifer Merrifield on April 10, 2020 at 8:43 pm said:

What a cute idea for a book. Kids are going to LOVE it. I am thinking of what advice I would give to a monster traveling to Maine?

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zacharysnydera5d09e28b5 on April 11, 2020 at 9:53 pm said:

Book looks awesome! looking forward to reading it!

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Angie on April 12, 2020 at 12:42 pm said:

So cute! I would want to read this book just by looking at the cover! Best wishes!

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Nancy Ferguson on April 12, 2020 at 4:53 pm said:

This looks like fun! To be in rhyme for the travel…how lovely and enjoyable for kids!

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Evelyn Bookless on May 4, 2020 at 3:51 am said:

Congrats Lori! Your books sounds like a hoot and I can’t wait to read it. Evelyn

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