It's a fun story for 6+-year-old readers, with a more serious take on important contemporary issues. Definitely a recommended read for this age group.
'The Halloween Parade', illustrated by Amalia Rendon, is one of author Matt Beighton's 'Monstacademy' series of books. It's a fun story for 6+ year old readers, with a more serious take on important contemporary issues.
A letter arrives at the Grimble household informing Trixie that, due to a cut in funding by Wexbridge Borough Council, St Agatha's Primary School, which she attends, is to close but that, come the new school year, she has a place at Monroe's Academy for the Different, a boarding school known locally as Monstacademy. She is not at all happy about it but then neither are the 'Different', the vampires, werewolves, ghosts and suchlike, who already attend M.A.D. Then one day, she is teamed up with Gloria, a vegetarian vampire, and Colin, a werepoodle, to produce the school's banner for the grand Halloween Parade. Very soon these three misfits become the best of friends and eventually become the school's heroes, averting a terrible disaster in the local community. At the end of the term, Trixie is offered a place at a 'normal' school but she realises she is now more than happy to stay where she is.
This book draws attention to insufficient funding for the education system (the author is, after all, a teacher) but is, more importantly, a nice twist on the issue of inclusion. Here it is not the 'Different' who are being excluded but Trixie the 'Ordinary' who is shunned and bullied. Young readers are being introduced to the very important lessons of acceptance, tolerance and kindness in an amusing and gentle way. Definitely a recommended read for this age group.
This is a very light-hearted and entertaining book for junior-aged readers.
This is a very light-hearted and entertaining book for junior-aged readers. It tells the story of Trixie who unwillingly starts at Monroe's Academy for unusual children, or Monstacademy as it is called. She finds it very difficult to make friends as she is seen as ' too normal' amongst the vampires, werewolves and other various monsters.
School life is described in amusing detail with some unusual problems....what does a vampire eat for lunch? where do the banshees sleep?
The author's skill in seeming to talk directly to the reader as if talking to a friend makes it a very endearing read. Children will draw parallels with their own school life and its ups and downs, and probably wish they went to a school like Monstacademy.
This is a great story of how to be a leader and do what is right!
This is a story about a young girl, named Trixie. She has to go to another school called “The Monstacademy”. Her mother seems to be happy she won't be around and underfoot all the time. Her Mom's boyfriend, Rob, says she can start her “Cat Circus” now. It has always been a dream of hers.
Poor Trixie can't understand why she has to go there where most of the students are supernatural. The students were werewolves, vampires, ghosts, banshee, witches, wizards, gargoyles and goblins.
Halloween was coming and the only thing left for Trixie, Colin and Gloria to do was to make the banner for the school. It was a very important job.
Heston Gobswaddle is a trouble maker.
Trixie overheard Heston and his friends discussing their plans to disrupt the Halloween Parade. They set about trying to stop them. Trixie, Colin and Gloria were heroes for saving the day.
At the end of the book there is a word search, find 10 differences in pictures and a blank page for you to draw a picture of what type of monster you would look like.
But the story is not over yet! There's a short story included at the end of the story. Trixie goes home to find the cat circus has taken over her room and she has to sleep in the garden shed. She's not happy but does what she is told. Then she worries that Santa Claus won't find her, so she makes her own cat circus so she can show Santa the way to her shed. Nothing works, but when she wakes up she is very surprised that her stocking is filled and there are lovely presents there for her to open. She takes them up to the house to open with her Mom, who gives her a hug. They go to her grandmother's house where they have a Christmas dinner and sing songs. When they get home her Mother says she has one more present for her and takes her up to her room. It is back to her room, exactly how it used to look. Her Mom said she was here first and she missed having her at home.
The next day, a letter arrived for Trixie. It was from her old school inviting her back, as she was a hero.
This is a great story of how to be a leader and do what is right!!