Suitabook
How to Tame a Monster
Sam Beckbessinger
CC BY 4.0Credits & Licence
Originally published by Book Dash. Writer: Sam Beckbessinger. Illustrator: Anja Venter. Designer: Wilna Combrinck. Editor: Carla Lever.
Cover resized and converted to WebP; artwork unchanged. Suitabook’s AI guidance is a separate assessment.
Original Book on Book Dash: How to Tame a Monster (opens in a new tab)- Reading
- Pause at each change in the monster’s mood and invite your child to notice the picture clues. Keep the final image open for discussion: the yellow monster is alone.
- Themes
- Looking beneath anger: Lwando interprets Oyiso’s apparent anger as hunger, tiredness, sadness or a need for quiet. The story presents noticing possible needs as a helpful response, rather than treating anger as the whole explanation.
- Care and safety: After Lwando’s attempts do not work, their father says monsters can only be tamed by helping them feel safe. The father’s advice and the family scene place reassurance and care at the centre of the response.
- Worth knowing
- The monsters become loud, frightening and increasingly large; later pictures show flames and damaged surroundings. These dramatic scenes may merit a quick preview for a sensitive child.