The Monstore

Written by: Tara Lazar

First line: At the back of Frankensweet's Candy Shoppe, under the last box of sour gum balls, there's a trapdoor.

Why you should read this book: A real crowd-pleaser of a picture book, this is the story of a boy named Zack who purchases a monster named Manfred to keep his sister, Gracie, out of his bedroom. Gracie, apparently a cut above the typical little sister, instead befriends the monster, and the two of them torment Zack exponentially. The Monstore does not offer refunds, and instead baits Zack into purchasing increasing numbers of ineffective monsters until Gracie commands a virtual army of them and Zack is displaced to the basement. At last, Gracie develops a terrible fear of something (not a monster) and requires her big brother's assistance, allowing the world to shift back into balance.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You're looking for an effective way to keep a sibling out of your personal space.