THE MONSTORE - Book Birthday!

If you were expecting the final installment of my conference prep posts, I apologize. I'll catch you up when I get back next week. But just like all the major news channels, I interrupt this blog with BREAKING NEWS.

Today is my friend’s “book birthday”. Tara Lazar’s The Monstore is in bookstores today. 

Two caveats.

First, I’ve never actually met Tara. Not in person. And not yet. I have followed her blog for two years, and Tara is the kind of person who puts herself out there and makes you feel like she speaks to you in each post. However, I will get to meet her in just three short days at the NJ SCBWI conference! And when I see her, even though she’s critiquing one of my manuscripts and I know I should act like a writing professional, I plan to give her an unprofessional hug (you are warned, Tara!). Writers know how important point of view is—and from my point of view Tara is already my friend.

Second, The Monstore is officially released today, but Tara explains here why her book won’t be in Barnes and Noble, at least not yet. This is absolute craziness.

In the press release provided by Simon & Schuster, Tara summarizes The Monstore brilliantly so I’ll give you her words:

“The Monstore began with a hush-hush location, a trap door, a password knock, and a boy’s hope that he’d find his perfect monster, just right for doing tricky things around the house. Like scaring pesky little sisters away.”

She had me at trap door. 

Illustrator James Burks gives the book a 3-D crazy feel. I don't know how he did it. It's magic genius. His website says that he's works on a raft of animated movies and TV shows and he translates that onto the page with perfection! In the hallways of the children's home even the photos on the wall have an eerie 3-D quality like Walt Disney's Haunted House ride.

I got my copy of The Monstore yesterday! Like a kid in a candy shop, I gobbled in the words and illustrations. Yes, it’s a book about monsters. Yes, it’s a book about kooky hidden places. But most of all, it’s a book about brothers and sisters.

Speaking as someone who was (and maybe still is) a pesky little sister, The Monstore rang true. Don't believe me?  I'm not the only one who thinks so. 

The Monstore currently has five star status on Goodreads. 

 PPBF 's Catherine Johnson had an advance review. 

My friend Carter Higgins reviewed it today, too on her Design of the Picture book blog.

Why are you still here? Go find a copy!
(Call Tara's local indie, The Bookworm to order a signed copy to be shipped to you: 908-766-4599.)