A Children's Picture Book
A Boy's Adventure with His Cat
by Jason H. Finck · Illustrated by Elena Komonina
The Story
Down the squeaky stairs, through twisted shadows, a young boy and his small black cat take the evening's rubbish out, but not without hesitation.
Is it a vivid imagination?
Is there really such a thing as a monster?
To find out, join this journey as Mayhem and a Monster follows the boy's adventure at this country farmhouse.
"I was scared. It was a magnificent time for mayhem and a monster."
Expect the unexpected.
Inside the Adventure
I really enjoy this illustration because Mother tells the boy "There's no such thing as a monster" and the black cat looks really confused. I find it amusing that Elena, the illustrator, drew the picture this way. Guess you'll have to read the book to find out why.
A Featured Moment
"I was scared. It was a magnificent time for mayhem and a monster."
Look at the moon, the water, the black cat and the shadows. The illustration is beautiful. Then repeat: "I was scared. It was a magnificent time for mayhem and a monster."
Read-Along
Follow along with a read-along of Mayhem and a Monster, straight from your screen.
Praise
As an elementary teacher and a mom of two, I highly recommend Mayhem and a Monster. The pages come to life as the young boy ventures through mystery and wonder with his cat. My kids loved the breath-taking illustrations and the nail-biting descriptions on every page. The repeated words let emerging readers join in, while the suspense keeps everyone guessing. Simply fantastic and a must-have for all ages.
I recently had the chance to read this book and loved the excitement and thrills of the child's imagination. It brought me right back to running in the dark past my aunt's and grandmother's houses, imagining creatures ready to jump out at me. A classic children's book. I applaud the author for bringing those childhood memories to life through this story and its beautiful illustrations.
What a delightful book! Mayhem and Monster captures a child's wild imagination perfectly. The story of a boy venturing out with his black cat to take out the trash is both spooky and fun. The illustrations are beautiful and add to the suspenseful feel. My grandkids loved spotting the cat on each page, and the surprise ending was a hit! Perfect for storytime.
About the Author
Jason H. Finck is a long-time resident of Western Pennsylvania. He has enjoyed writing stories over the last decade, publishing his first children's picture book titled Mayhem and a Monster in 2023.
Jason draws his story inspirations from reminiscences of his fun-filled childhood in the 1980s and the childhoods of his three teenage boys. He writes amusing and exciting stories for children targeted in the first, second and third grades.
My best memories are of my time spent both as a child and as an adult at the family summer home along French Creek. Days were full of activities that included playing in the woods and fields and swimming, fishing, and canoeing in the pond and creek. Nights were filled with wonderful and scary tales told by my father around a campfire, followed by eerie excursions into the dark night with my cousins and sons.
Details
Where to Buy
Join a young boy and his black cat on a suspenseful nighttime adventure. Available in hardcover and paperback from your favorite retailer.