"For all of us who grew up loving Dungeons &and Tolkien, Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes is an excellent way to introduce our little ones to the world of fantasy!" --Drew Daywalt, New York Times #1 bestselling author of The Day the Crayons Quit "Both kids and adults, whose interests are a bit dark and creepy and off the beaten path, will revel in the rhymes' inventive, dark humor. Bravo!" --Dan Yaccarino, author and illustrator of Unlovable, Doug Unplugged, and many others "Monstrously clever and soon to be schoolyard standards." --Tara Lazar, author of The Monstore Who has the head of a bull and the body of a man? A minotaur If you cut off one of a hydra's heads, how many grow back in its place? Two What do you get when you cross a gnome and a troll? A gnoll Whom should you call to help you with your daily chores? A brownie Mythological and fantastical creatures abound in these monstrously funny rhymes that are retellings of classic Mother Goose poems. Author Henry Herz and his young sons Josh and Harrison transform poems including "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary," "This Little Piggy," and "Hey Diddle Diddle" into "Zombie Rotten, Quite Forgotten," "This Little Hydra," and "Hey Doblin, Doblin." The verses retain the singsong tone and catchy rhythm of the original poems but add a whimsical twist. In worlds both real and imaginary, legends of monsters remain-mutations of the human form, each with its own personality, quirks, and special characteristics. Dwarves and witches, elves and sprites, centaurs and fauns, werewolves and zombies-these creatures need bedtime stories too! If you have a proclivity for the unnatural and the macabre, the Herz trio's ghastly rhymes are sure to slake your morbid curiosities and tickle your impish funny bone. With bold lines and colorful movement, the illustrations create a sense of action and animation.

The characters depicted are destined to become a new horde of antiheroes, for whom we all root! The authors also include a "bestiary" with information about all of the book's legendary creatures, hailing from the mythological traditions of Scotland, Germany, Italy, Persia, Haiti, and Scandinavia. Henry Herz received a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering and operations research from Cornell University, master of science in operations research from George Washington University, and master of arts in political science from Georgetown University, none of which help him write children's books. His love for fantasy began when he read Where the Wild Things Are (repeatedly) as a child (and as an adult) and was sealed by The Lord of the Rings and Dungeons & Dragons. He enjoys painting Warhammer miniatures, moderating science fiction/fantasy literature panels at conventions, eating Boston cream pie, and writing children's books with his sons, Josh and Harrison. Their first book was featured in Young Entrepreneur, Wired GeekDad, CNN, and the Warner Brothers' website for the Hobbit movie. The Herz writing trio lives in San Diego, California. Abigail Larson's whimsical illustrations have been shown throughout the United States, from New York to Los Angeles, as well as internationally in Paris and London. Larson creates digital art for children's books and commissioned projects.

Some of her interests include Halloween, witchcraft, children's literature, skeletons, and monsters.