This humorous picture book will amuse the adults reading it aloud, as much as the children who listen. Kaplan is known for his illustrations in The New Yorker magazine, but he has also written scripts for Seinfield, Six Feet Under, and other productions, which comes through in his writing style. If you and your kids have a slightly wacky sense of humor, you will love the precarious situation of little Henry and Eve, two whiny children who are abducted by monsters who eat whiny children. Fortunately, it takes the monsters too long to figure out what recipe to use, allowing Henry and Eve enough time to calm down and eventually escape out the window. Not sure if this is a good choice for you? Read the scanned page to the right for a sample of the story.

Kids who enjoy Monsters Eat Whiny Children may also like The Spider and the Fly illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi, and Cautionary Tales for Children by Hilaire Belloc with illustrations by Edward Gorey.

Reviewed by Jennifer