Ten undisciplined monsters visit school to learn their ABCs. A little boy reading at his desk finds himself surrounded by little furry creatures with pointed teeth, long tails and rhino-like horns. The alphabet lessons are embedded in the ample rhyming narrative. The boy begins his instruction with apple and book and crayon and desk, all items close at hand. But the mischievous monsters have other ideas, turning the classroom upside-down with an experiment (E). The little boy gets into the swing, until the antics of the monsters wear him out with jumping jacks (J) and such. They even chase the teacher, Mrs. Tubbins (T). Surprise visitors provide the X, Y & Z, just before Mrs. Tubbins chases all of the monster away with . . . homework! Refreshingly, the story stands on its own, and Munsinger’s ink-and-watercolor illustrations make the monsters adorable. Bonus: a pack of alphabet flash cards. (Picture book. 3-6)
