The Monster in the Backpack: Candlewick Sparks (Candlewick Readers)

Having trouble with your backpack zipper? Maybe there's a monster inside! Annie warms up to the exasperating but lovable creature she finds in her backpack in this humorous story complemented by energetic illustrations.

When Annie unzips her new flowered backpack and finds a monster
inside, it's hard to say who is more shocked. "AAAAHHHH!" yells the monster. "EEEEEEKKKK!" yells Annie. It's a predicament, to be sure, as the monster proceeds to gobble Annie's sandwich, stick gum in her boot, and tear up her homework to use as confetti for an "Annie-is-great" parade in the middle of class. With a perfectly tuned sense of comic timing, Lisa Moser captures a young girl's transition from annoyance to affection as a funky and disarmingly open-hearted monster makes an untimely appearance. Noah Jones's colorful and expressive illustrations bring these two charming characters brilliantly to life.