Marty the Mailbox Monster


Children - Picture Book
34 Pages
Reviewed on 01/10/2024
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Have you ever known a monster who was too scared to hide under the bed? Or, for that matter, in the closet? Meet Marty. The only place he likes is the mail room wall, complete with the forgotten fruitcakes and other parcels and letters, too. Kim Walker tells Marty’s story in Marty the Mailbox Monster. It’s a story about kindness, but Marty has a lot to learn before he understands that people can be kind to monsters, just like he’s kind to all the people who talk to him through the mailbox wall. He even shares jokes and makes people happy. But he refuses to venture out and allow anyone to see him. He’s afraid his appearance might scare people away and that would make Marty very sad. He loves his friends through the wall and he would be terribly lonely without them. So, Marty devises a plan to let them know how much they mean to him. He writes them each a letter. Have you ever written or received a handwritten letter? It’s pretty special.

Kim Walker’s picture book, Marty the Mailbox Monster, is a clever way to teach young readers about kindness, accepting differences, and, best of all, how to write a letter. Told in simple language, in bold, funky fonts, the plot follows Marty as he greets his friends through the mailbox wall, all while wishing he could actually go beyond the wall and play with his friends. Young readers will feel compassion for Marty as he struggles with loneliness and longs for acceptance. Accompanied by bright, bold, and colorful illustrations that are as full of expression as the story itself, this endearing book will have young readers looking to make friends with others despite their differences. With a blank letter page at the end of the book, young readers can also learn how to write their own personal letters, which are much more charming and compassionate than a text or an email. A beautiful story!