The Monster Next Door

Written by David Soman

A boy's friendship with a monster is tested by a noisy tuba and a water-balloon fight.

3.7 Goodreads · 340 ratings

32 pages· 416 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud· AD440L

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon.

Bookroo's summary

In a vast field, a boy's peaceful tree house life is upended by a new neighbor—a monster with a penchant for loud tuba music. Their friendship blossoms through note-passing on a pulley line, but the monster's noise leads to a water-balloon war. Frustrated, the boy severs their connection, questioning if they can ever be friends again. Can a fresh perspective mend their bond, or is the friendship lost forever? Discover how a boy learns to see beyond the noise in this heartwarming tale of unexpected friendship.

From the publisher

In a big field, a boy has a tree house, and one day, he has a neighbor—a monster with a talent for silly dances and funny faces. The two become fast friends, even setting up a pulley line to pass notes between their tree houses. The boy knows just how to celebrate this invention—with music! But the monster’s tuba music is loud. Really loud. WAY. TOO. LOUD. Before the boy can think, he hurls a water balloon at his neighbor to get him to stop. An epic water-balloon fight ensues, until the boy—fed up, spent, done—cuts the pulley line. No more note-passing. No more monster. Can the boy and monster ever be friends again? Does the boy even want to? Maybe he just needs to see things from a new, unexpected perspective.

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