Testimonials...

For the past 30 years I have spent day after day encouraging young minds to drift away in a book. Throughout my teaching career I have discovered that young children enjoy books with themes familiar to themselves, with a rhythm that helps the slowest readers to be successful, and with a cleverness that intrigues the gifted children.

Finally there is a collection of books with a catchy rhythm and delightful characters. These books relate to the children around us and to the children within us. “So Many Monsters” helps children deal with the uneasiness of the unknown. Humor helps children deal with problems - the monsters in this story help the children deal with their fears in an unthreatening way.

Hal Pollock has also written “Monster at the Bat.” As the story progresses you find yourself in a ballpark, along with the monsters, glove in hand waiting to catch that evasive baseball. What happens next keeps you in suspense!

And then there is “Monstermania!” For those of us who find ourselves lost in the sixties, the Brittles have come to our rescue. Hal has done an amazing job incorporating the mannerisms of the Beatles into his monster characters. If that wasn't enough, a CD of Louise Harrison reading the book is included. How awesome is that!!

I highly recommend these delightful new books!

Judy Rodriguez, Teacher - Plat Elementary School

Dr. Seuss meets Sgt. Pepper in one of the most entertaining books ever. Monstermania, we love you. Yeah-yeah-yeah!

Thomas Kelly, Author, The Summer of 54

It has been a long time since I have had the opportunity to read such creative, happy and helpful children's literature. During my career of thirty-five years as a public school teacher, I had the priviledge of teaching gifted students as well as children in the regular classroom. I often heard someone exclaim that gifted children can figure out their own problems because of their giftedness, and really need no special tutoring or special classes. Nothing could be further from the truth. These children have all the fears and apprehensions that other children have. That is why I am delighted to see someone like Hal Pollack write about the fears we see in all groups of children. His stories are timeless and so appropriately written during an age when parents and children seem to spend less and less time together. Monstermania is quite sophistocated with its illusions to all the Brittles' songs. What a great jumping off point for the music history buff or teacher who wants to explore Beatle music.

In Monster at the Bat, vivid pictures come to mind, anticipation as to whether the ball was caught or not. Hal's writing seems to explode into an artful array of word combinations, rhyming and chiming all the way to the end of the story. What a gammet of topics he twists together to create the story.

It is my hope that in the near future, Hal's stories will be made available on a much broader basis. Getting these stories into the hands of children will add geatly to the field of children's literature. I am looking forward to receiving my copies.

A monster fan,

Suzanne M. Long
Reading Specialist, Retired teacher of gifted children
City of Painesville Local School District

I love the Monstermania Books they are fun, entertaining, and even historical. I can't wait to share them with my elementary school music students - they will eat them up! Move over Cat in the Hat - the Monsters have arrived!

Debbie Gifford, Music Specialist (Music K-5)

I have been involved in education for over thirty years and have had the opportunity to review several books aimed at the young audience. There have been very few that have been as delightful as "So Many Monsters." The illustrations are entertaining and the story line strikes a familiar chord. Many of us will remember our own youthful anxieties associated with those "mysterious things" that may be lurking in any number of hiding places in our homes. To bring that childhood fear into a humorous tale is a treat to all parents who keep trying to find a way to ease their little one's minds about those ellusive "monsters".

As a principal of a Community school in Cleveland for Kindergarten through grade three, I'll have copies of this wonderful book available for my teachers. I have also had the privilage of reviewing two new books of the series, "Monstermania" and "Monster At The Bat," both soon to be released and both equally as delightful. I highly recomend these books to educators and parents alike.
Don Disantis, Principal - Puritis Community School