The Monster Trap    by Dean Morrissey Order:  USA  Can HarperCollins, 2004 (2004) Hardcover      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Paddy is staying over at 'Pop's Place' (with his grandfather) for the first time, while his parents are away. It's darker than he remembered, and it doesn't help that they listen to 'Monster Radio Theater' together after supper ... when Paddy goes to bed, he hears monsters. But Pop has a solution - a trap containing 'Sure-fire, high-grade monster bait'. Though something has a look in the middle of the night, the trap's empty the next morning. Paddy is sure the monsters are 'just too smart for this trap' so they make another, bigger and smarter. When the trap's empty again the next morning, Pop gets serious. Together they build the trap so that 'the bafflesnatch is connected to the flubbernut, and the snogmuddle fits through the plim flaps.' Will that one work? You'll just have to read the book to find out! The Monster Trap's illustrations are suitably spooky, in an old-time style, and the story reflects that special connection that skips a generation, and the ability that some adults have to enter children's imaginations and play with them there. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews