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Quick answer: If you loved The Monster at the End of This Book, try Another Monster at the End of This Book, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, We Are in a Book!, The Book with No Pictures, Press Here and Tap the Magic Tree. Each one is an interactive, funny picture book where the reader becomes part of the story.
Jon Stone's 1971 Sesame Street book, illustrated by Michael Smollin, stars lovable, furry old Grover, who is terrified to learn there is a monster at the end of the book. He begs readers not to turn the pages, tying them with rope and building brick walls, but each turn brings readers closer. The twist: the monster is Grover himself. Children love its silly pleading and big reveal. These books share its interactive fun.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Another Monster at the End of This Book | Jon Stone | 2-6 | readers who want the sequel |
| Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! | Mo Willems | 3-6 | readers who like talking to the reader |
| We Are in a Book! | Mo Willems | 4-8 | readers who like characters who know they're in a book |
| The Book with No Pictures | B.J. Novak | 4-8 | readers who like silly read-alouds |
| Press Here | Hervé Tullet | 3-6 | readers who like interactive books |
| Tap the Magic Tree | Christie Matheson | 2-6 | readers who like tapping and shaking |
| Don't Push the Button! | Bill Cotter | 2-6 | readers who like temptation |
| This Book Just Ate My Dog! | Richard Byrne | 3-7 | readers who like book tricks |
| Is Everyone Ready for Fun? | Jan Thomas | 2-6 | readers who like silly animals |
| There's a Monster in Your Book | Tom Fletcher | 2-6 | readers who like shaking books |
| Interrupting Chicken | David Ezra Stein | 3-7 | readers who like interruptions |
| Where the Wild Things Are | Maurice Sendak | 3-7 | readers who like friendly monsters |
| Go Away, Big Green Monster! | Ed Emberley | 2-5 | readers who like scary-but-safe |
| Grover and the Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum | Norman Stiles | 3-6 | readers who want more Grover |
| The Gruffalo | Julia Donaldson | 2-7 | readers who like monster twists |
1. Another Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone
Grover and Elmo argue over turning pages.
Best for: readers who want the sequel.
2. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
A pigeon begs the reader for a turn.
Best for: readers who like talking to the reader.
3. We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems
Elephant and Piggie realize a reader is watching.
Best for: readers who like characters who know they're in a book.
4. The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak
The reader must say ridiculous words.
Best for: readers who like silly read-alouds.
5. Press Here by Hervé Tullet
A book that asks you to press and shake.
Best for: readers who like interactive books.
6. Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson
A tree changes with the seasons as you tap.
Best for: readers who like tapping and shaking.
7. Don't Push the Button! by Bill Cotter
A monster begs you not to push a button.
Best for: readers who like temptation.
8. This Book Just Ate My Dog! by Richard Byrne
A book swallows a dog.
Best for: readers who like book tricks.
9. Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas
Cows jump on a chicken's couch.
Best for: readers who like silly animals.
10. There's a Monster in Your Book by Tom Fletcher
Readers shake a monster out of the book.
Best for: readers who like shaking books.
11. Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
A chicken interrupts bedtime stories.
Best for: readers who like interruptions.
12. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
A boy sails to the wild things.
Best for: readers who like friendly monsters.
13. Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
A monster appears and disappears.
Best for: readers who like scary-but-safe.
14. Grover and the Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum by Norman Stiles
Grover visits a silly museum.
Best for: readers who want more Grover.
15. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
A mouse invents a monster.
Best for: readers who like monster twists.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with The Monster at the End of This Book: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to The Monster at the End of This Book. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
For more Grover, read Another Monster at the End of This Book. If your child loves talking-to-the-reader books, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and We Are in a Book! are perfect. For interactive fun, Press Here, Tap the Magic Tree and There's a Monster in Your Book are favorites.
Related: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Monster at the End of This Book about?
Grover begs readers not to turn the pages because a monster is at the end.
Who is the monster?
Grover himself.
When was it published?
In 1971.
What age is it for?
It suits children about 2 to 6.
Is there a sequel?
Yes. Another Monster at the End of This Book, with Elmo.
Why do kids love it?
They enjoy turning the pages even as Grover begs them to stop.
What should my child read next?
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!