You may remember that we recently interviewed Adam Rex<\/a><\/strong>, and we’ve made it very clear repeatedly that we’re big ‘ol honkin’ fans of his books. So, it may be no surprise that for Bradbury Day we want to re-visit and highlight Adam’s fabulous anthology of original poems, published last year by Harcourt<\/a><\/strong>, entitled Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich: and Other Stories You\u2019re Sure to Like, Because They\u2019re All About Monsters, And Some of Them Are Also About Food. You Like Food, Don’t You? Well, All Right Then<\/a><\/strong><\/em>. And Adam gave us permission to use Frankenwaiter up there to help us celebrate this book. <\/p>\n And then, even better yet, he gave us a sneak peek at the first poem of the new book he’s working on, and it’s entitled . . . <\/p>\n A MESSAGE FROM ADAM REX<\/p>\n My first monster book has sold so well So, when asked if Frank could write some more (He\u2019s the poet\u2013did you know it? So I said to him, \u201cMore poems!\u201d Then I waved around a burning torch\u2013 So\u2013as long as they keep sending checks, Hoo ha! And thanks to Adam for that. (The formatting for that poem is a bit off in spots; WordPress will not allow us to indent in block quotes, blast it!)<\/p>\n Jules<\/strong>: I reviewed it here<\/a><\/strong> last year, if you’d like to take a quick read about why there is a hole in your life if you haven’t read this book. Here’s an excerpt from my review, complete with my trademark lame humor and all:<\/p>\n The poems are interspersed with the plight of the poor Phantom of the Opera, for one, who can’t get certain nursery rhymes and children’s songs out of his head whilst trying to compose an aria and who grows increasingly deranged ’cause of it. And then there’s “Count Dracula Doesn’t Know He’s Been Walking Around All Night With Spinach in His Teeth”; the illustration on this one alone<\/a><\/strong> speaks volumes and is screamingly funny (bad pun intended). And what happens when Dr. Jekyll, who is put out at the notion of having to attend another one of those “dressy balls\/in crowded halls and homes” and who intends to transform himself into Mr. Hyde, goofs up and becomes humdrum Mr. Henderson instead?<\/p>\n “What’s done . . . is done,” He told a stale and endless tale And Rex’s pen-and-ink drawing of Mr. N. Henderson? Well, it’s another must-see. Unfortunately, it’s not {at his site}, but you can see a few other of Rex’s illustrations there, and it’s well worth your time. Just look at that Speckled Crone<\/a><\/strong>! And as for Frankenstein — who merely wants a sandwich but has no bread — he’s really just a lovable ‘ol schlep<\/a><\/strong>. Poor thing scares everyone away when out looking for some condiments and such. Come on now. On the count of three, give me a big “aw!”, everyone. One, two . . . ah, forget it. But, truly, just look at that face again<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n This is one sharp book. On every level — the text, the illustrations, all the subtleties therein — it’s inventive and hysterical, and you don’t want to miss it. Or else a monster might get you. Mwhahahahahahaha . . . and hahahahaha Eisha, don’t you think this is an excellent choice for Bradbury Day? Would you like to add anything about this very funny, very sharp, and quite original book Adam created? By the way, Adam also gave us permission to post the above-linked spread from Frankenstein<\/em>, which gets me every time:<\/p>\n eisha<\/strong>: Yeah, but first: that new poem is hilarious<\/em>. Poor monster. Adam, you better give him a big ol’ sandwich for that.<\/p>\n This book blew me away on every level. I loved the poetry, I loved the illustrations, I loved the concept. I got a little obnoxious with it last fall, forcing it on nearly everyone I knew, even the ones I don’t usually spring children’s<\/em> books on. And, you know, I was on the Nominating Panel for the first Cybil Awards<\/strong><\/a> last year, and this book made it into our top five, so it’s not just me.<\/p>\n If there’s anyone left on the planet who hasn’t checked out this book, I am telling you: DO IT! It’s great for all ages, and it satisfies on every level. Read it now. Don’t make me get out the flaming torch.<\/p>\n Jules<\/strong>: Word up. Consider it highlighted. This is the last time we’re gonna rave about it, people. Come on. It’s been over a year now. If you haven’t read it, get moving. Hey, we can be bossy bears, too, just like Adam is to Frankenstein. <\/p>\n And we’re looking forward to the next book of poetry. So, thanks for the sneak peek, Mr. Rex. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What is “Bradbury Day”?, you ask. Well, Colleen Mondor at Chasing Ray suggested that — in honor of the upcoming trick-or-treating holiday, which is all things spooky — we consider a favorite creepy-esque, Halloween-esque, scary-esque novel or story or picture book or etcetera (for any age readers) and write about it. Anything that celebrates the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-picture-books"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=915"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/915\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nI bought a gold guitar.
\nThen I had some people fit
\na second storey on my car.
\nAnd now my mansion has a track
\nwhere men on jet skis race giraffes.
\n(I also held some money back
\nto throw at pigeons, just for laughs.)<\/p>\n
\nI told myself, I quote,
\n \u201cIf that freak will
\n make a sequel
\n I can buy a bigger boat!\u201d<\/p>\n
\nYou deserve an explanation\u2013
\nFrankenstein does all the writing.
\nI provide the motivation.)<\/p>\n
\nBut he raised his hand (which shook,
\ndue to a writer\u2019s cramp he\u2019d picked up
\nworking on the Sandwich book)
\nand said, \u201cNo poems. Poems bad.
\nI think I ready to retire.
\nMaybe travel. Start a hobby.\u201d
\nTo which I responded, \u201cFIRE!\u201d<\/p>\n
\nthat always does the trick.
\nFrankenstein got right to writing rhymes,
\nand wrote them all right quick.<\/p>\n
\nI am
\n Yours Truly,
\n Adam Rex<\/p><\/blockquote>\n![](\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/frfankenstein.jpg\")
To summarize Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich<\/em>, the book we’re highlighting today, these are “stories in verse about the monster-sized problems Dracula, Wolfman, Bigfoot and other monsters have.” Those Library of Congress summaries are handy like that, but if you haven’t already read this book, you really<\/em> should treat yourself. A summary does it no justice whatsoever. <\/p>\n\n
\n
\nsighed Henderson,
\nand went to join the rest.
\nAround the floor he stopped
\nto bore the pants off every guest.<\/p>\n
\nthat tested their endurance,
\ntopped that with pictures of his cat,
\nthen sold them all insurance.\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
. . . and hahahaha . . . and haha . . . and mwha . . . {evil laughter fades as I sign off} . . .<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n![](\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/countdracula1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n