Boy in the Drawer Munsch

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 · 745 ratings  · 31 reviews

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Um... yeah. This is definitely one of the weaker Munsch/Martchenko titles. I don't get it at all! It reads more like a disjointed dream than any sort of coherent story.

Shelley's cleaning up her socks when she finds a boy in a drawer. She tries to tell her mother, but her mother doesn't seem to believe her. Then she finds the boy in her bed watering his tomato plant. Again, she tells her mother, to no avail. After that, she tries to read a book, but she finds the boy behind the curtain painting t

Um... yeah. This is definitely one of the weaker Munsch/Martchenko titles. I don't get it at all! It reads more like a disjointed dream than any sort of coherent story.

Shelley's cleaning up her socks when she finds a boy in a drawer. She tries to tell her mother, but her mother doesn't seem to believe her. Then she finds the boy in her bed watering his tomato plant. Again, she tells her mother, to no avail. After that, she tries to read a book, but she finds the boy behind the curtain painting the window black. She tells him to go away, which makes him grow a little bit. Then she paints his ear black, which makes him grow a little more. She runs off to find her parents, but can't find them... until she reaches the kitchen, which is flooded. They don't seem to notice. Now the boy is taking a bath in the breadbox. It's at this point that Shelley figures out that negative attention makes the boy grow and positive attention makes the boy shrink. So they shrink the kid away to nothing and Shelley cleans up the mess.

Is this supposed to be a metaphor? Or am I just searching for meaning in a really odd, really random little story? The illustrations are okay, I guess (and I love the fact that Shelley was reading The Paper Bag Princess). But, overall, this didn't really work for me.

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Jan 22, 2019 J.L. Slipak rated it it was amazing

MY THOUGHTS:

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was considered not one of Robert Munsch's best. I found that so hard to believe because after all, he's Robert Munsch. However, it is possible for even the most brilliant of authors to slip up. But I like to reserve judgement for myself. What might appeal or not appeal to one person, may do so for another.

So I asked for the book.

The publisher sent it to me and I began flipping through the pages. It's your typical Munsch

MY THOUGHTS:

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was considered not one of Robert Munsch's best. I found that so hard to believe because after all, he's Robert Munsch. However, it is possible for even the most brilliant of authors to slip up. But I like to reserve judgement for myself. What might appeal or not appeal to one person, may do so for another.

So I asked for the book.

The publisher sent it to me and I began flipping through the pages. It's your typical Munsch book, glossy 'square' with absolutely amazing artwork. Adorable, bright and clean in their appearance. So the poor ratings couldn't be due to Martchenko's efforts.

The size and presentation of the book is typical of all Munsch books, so he's consistent with his work in appearance. He didn't sway from the picture book requirements either.

So I began to read the story.

In the beginning, I thought the "boy" was a gremlin, messing up the house. So what is a gremlin? An imaginary creature blamed for things others do.

Which told me everything. This story is about telling lies. Once told, the lie grows and grows until it becomes so big, you end up in a huge mess, just like Shelley. I find it interesting that the lies took on the form of a little mischievous boy. I also think the story is deep and thought provoking. I wonder if parents question whether the moral of the story will be understood by children in this reading bracket. Parents shouldn't under estimate their children's abilities.

Overall, I think Munsch's concept was extraordinary and thought provoking. It's an interesting spin on all the other tales I've read about lying, how lies snowball, and the consequence that occur.

His resolution to the dilemma is unique and very creative. Instead of saying "lying is bad!" He shows in a fun way how a lie can grow and grow until the truth is faced.

As always Munsch, in my opinion, did exactly what he set out to do and with the creative work of Martchenko, he was successful.

I guess the only question left is would children of this readership understand the moral of the story.
PS. My daughter saw the Munsch book on my desk and snatched it up before I finished typing this review… so what does that tell you?

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Jul 03, 2009 Sandra Stiles rated it really liked it

Shelley walks into her room and finds it a mess. She tells her mother and is told to clean it up. She finds a boy reading a book in her sock drawer. She keeps finding messes in other places and her mother keeps telling her to clean it up. The small boy is responsible for the messes. Every time she yells at him he gets bigger. He is flooding the kitchen by taking a bath in the bread box. When she yells at him to get out he grows larger and sits in the middle of the table. Shelley finally figures Shelley walks into her room and finds it a mess. She tells her mother and is told to clean it up. She finds a boy reading a book in her sock drawer. She keeps finding messes in other places and her mother keeps telling her to clean it up. The small boy is responsible for the messes. Every time she yells at him he gets bigger. He is flooding the kitchen by taking a bath in the bread box. When she yells at him to get out he grows larger and sits in the middle of the table. Shelley finally figures out how to get rid of him. ...more

Sep 07, 2019 Amélie rated it really liked it

A fun story about a boy that grows whenever people are mean to him. He becomes a nuisance, so the people try to get rid of him until they come up with a plan. It's an original story and I enjoyed it very much! A fun story about a boy that grows whenever people are mean to him. He becomes a nuisance, so the people try to get rid of him until they come up with a plan. It's an original story and I enjoyed it very much! ...more

Apr 13, 2018 Lynn Davidson rated it really liked it

A little girl discovers a tiny boy in a drawer in her room. He causes problems for her and makes messes she has to clean up.

The Boy in the Drawer tells the story of a young girl named Shelley who finds a small boy in her drawer. First he trashes her bedroom, then he plants a garden in her sheets, and he even paints the windows black. Each time, Shelley calmly cleans up the mess, and tells herself that everything is okay -- that is, until she becomes so annoyed that she has to retaliate!

The idea of this story is fun! I mostly enjoyed the story until it got to the end. When Shelley finally gets fed up and does somethin

The Boy in the Drawer tells the story of a young girl named Shelley who finds a small boy in her drawer. First he trashes her bedroom, then he plants a garden in her sheets, and he even paints the windows black. Each time, Shelley calmly cleans up the mess, and tells herself that everything is okay -- that is, until she becomes so annoyed that she has to retaliate!

The idea of this story is fun! I mostly enjoyed the story until it got to the end. When Shelley finally gets fed up and does something mean back to the little boy, he grows a couple inches! Shelley realizes that retaliating with a mean spirit makes him grow, so doing something kind should make him shrink again. She and her family hug and kiss him until he disappears altogether. While execution of the storyline and ending was not very strong, I could still see the moral it was trying to teach: kindness is a better reaction, and it usually can make a bully go away!

I would recommend this book in a classroom. It could be used to teach the moral mentioned above, although there are probably better books out there on the topic of kindness! Nevertheless, this could be a good book to begin a classroom discussion or a quick, interesting book for young readers.

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This book is for a younger audience (Kindergarten to 2nd Grade). The text is repetitious and uses a range of simpler vocabulary, in order for students to grow in their reading ability. It tells the story of a young girl who encounters a small boy in her dresser drawer while she was cleaning her room. This fantasy picture book is a just for fun read. Kids will love the silliness of the boy in the drawer and will be curious to know what naughty thing he will do next. Without giving the ending away This book is for a younger audience (Kindergarten to 2nd Grade). The text is repetitious and uses a range of simpler vocabulary, in order for students to grow in their reading ability. It tells the story of a young girl who encounters a small boy in her dresser drawer while she was cleaning her room. This fantasy picture book is a just for fun read. Kids will love the silliness of the boy in the drawer and will be curious to know what naughty thing he will do next. Without giving the ending away, I will just say that this text can be used as a reference when discussing the importance of kindness over anger, and how voicing your anger may not produce the results you want. ...more

Even with the lack of context, this book was still entertaining. Where did this little boy come from? Who knows, but he's there to make Shelley's life difficult by making all sorts of messes all over the place.

I also don't understand why this little boy was growing larger every time he was insulted, and smaller every time he was shown affection, but the point is, is that Shelley and her family showed that little boy enough affection to make him disappear forever.

Maybe forever, maybe not.

Even with the lack of context, this book was still entertaining. Where did this little boy come from? Who knows, but he's there to make Shelley's life difficult by making all sorts of messes all over the place.

I also don't understand why this little boy was growing larger every time he was insulted, and smaller every time he was shown affection, but the point is, is that Shelley and her family showed that little boy enough affection to make him disappear forever.

Maybe forever, maybe not.

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Mar 29, 2018 Donna Mork rated it really liked it

A girl finds a tiny boy in her sock drawer, and he's made a mess. She tries to tell her parents but they just tell her to clean it up. She finds the boy in her bed watering a tomato plant. The same thing happens. He gets bigger and bigger the more she tells him to leave. Finally, her parents see the boy too. She is nice to him and he grows smaller. They join in, give him a hug and a kiss and he vanishes. But she still has to clean up the mess he left behind. A girl finds a tiny boy in her sock drawer, and he's made a mess. She tries to tell her parents but they just tell her to clean it up. She finds the boy in her bed watering a tomato plant. The same thing happens. He gets bigger and bigger the more she tells him to leave. Finally, her parents see the boy too. She is nice to him and he grows smaller. They join in, give him a hug and a kiss and he vanishes. But she still has to clean up the mess he left behind. ...more

Sep 02, 2019 FM Family rated it really liked it

Just such an absurd book, I remember liking it well as a kid but also not really getting it. Feel the same when reading it as an adult. It's funny and ludicrous in that classic Munsch way that leaves you wondering if there was a point to this and also how he came up with these things. But I like it a lot anyway and it held my 2 year old's attention although she didn't request it specifically, which she usually does with the books I rank 4 stars- so I'm tweaking the rating a bit here. Just such an absurd book, I remember liking it well as a kid but also not really getting it. Feel the same when reading it as an adult. It's funny and ludicrous in that classic Munsch way that leaves you wondering if there was a point to this and also how he came up with these things. But I like it a lot anyway and it held my 2 year old's attention although she didn't request it specifically, which she usually does with the books I rank 4 stars- so I'm tweaking the rating a bit here. ...more

Ummmmm...there's a little girl whose room becomes a mess and discovers that it's the doing of the tiny boy in the drawer. Each time she gets angry with him, he becomes bigger.

This was weird.

Ummmmm...there's a little girl whose room becomes a mess and discovers that it's the doing of the tiny boy in the drawer. Each time she gets angry with him, he becomes bigger.

This was weird.

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Feb 16, 2019 Dawn rated it it was amazing

I love to read this book to talk about problem solving and how to make problems bigger or smaller.

It was fun and pretty weird.

Feb 02, 2022 Ruth rated it liked it

This is an odd tale. I enjoyed it, but also found it.... odd.

Nov 18, 2012 Diana Pettis rated it really liked it

Shelley finds a small boy in her drawer who causes a lot of trouble. I read this today to Xander and he really liked it. He then said to me that it was sad about Shelley having to be an only child. As I was reading this story aloud to Xander I noticed vocabulary that we had to talk about. The word trouble-maker really tripped him up. As you are reading this story there are other spots where you can go in talking with children. Some of the things I did with Xander were to stop and ask him to pred Shelley finds a small boy in her drawer who causes a lot of trouble. I read this today to Xander and he really liked it. He then said to me that it was sad about Shelley having to be an only child. As I was reading this story aloud to Xander I noticed vocabulary that we had to talk about. The word trouble-maker really tripped him up. As you are reading this story there are other spots where you can go in talking with children. Some of the things I did with Xander were to stop and ask him to predict, and ask him to tell me about the characters

Guided Reading: J
Themes: Manners and Conduct
DRA 18/20 range
Lexile 420
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.1

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Sep 01, 2013 Carol rated it liked it

I always liked the idea of "little" things, little people, so this book about a tiny boy in a drawer appealed to me. Not that the boy is very appealing - he's grumpy and he makes an awful lot of messes. Still, he's cute in his own way, and he is changeable. In fact, the heroine can touch him and change his size. This Munsch book came from the 80's and, I think, is one of the more classic Munsch stories. My favourite bit is the opening picture of the girl's bedroom, with the floor and walls almos I always liked the idea of "little" things, little people, so this book about a tiny boy in a drawer appealed to me. Not that the boy is very appealing - he's grumpy and he makes an awful lot of messes. Still, he's cute in his own way, and he is changeable. In fact, the heroine can touch him and change his size. This Munsch book came from the 80's and, I think, is one of the more classic Munsch stories. My favourite bit is the opening picture of the girl's bedroom, with the floor and walls almost entirely covered with socks. Sound familiar to any parents? ...more

Dec 30, 2009 Dolly rated it liked it  · review of another edition

Recommends it for: parents reading with their children

This is a fun story about a little girl who is plagued with a naughty little boy who makes a mess in her room and the rest of her house. It's silly, and in a strange way, shows the power of love and kindness.

Our girls enjoyed watching the story on the Tumblebooks website. (http://www.tumblebooks.com) Our oldest said that it was the silliest book she'd ever heard.

This is a fun story about a little girl who is plagued with a naughty little boy who makes a mess in her room and the rest of her house. It's silly, and in a strange way, shows the power of love and kindness.

Our girls enjoyed watching the story on the Tumblebooks website. (http://www.tumblebooks.com) Our oldest said that it was the silliest book she'd ever heard.

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Feb 04, 2013 TheMcafeeKids rated it really liked it

He was hiding in her drawer. Then her bed. Then he tried to paint the window black. So she patted him and the parents gave him a hug and the boy disappeared. I liked this book because it's by my favourite author, Robert Munsch. He was hiding in her drawer. Then her bed. Then he tried to paint the window black. So she patted him and the parents gave him a hug and the boy disappeared. I liked this book because it's by my favourite author, Robert Munsch. ...more

I enjoyed this one but didn't really understand it .. why he got bigger and smaller when certain things happened to him.. all in all I enjoyed it.. another one I have never read! falling in love with Munsch's writing all over again! I enjoyed this one but didn't really understand it .. why he got bigger and smaller when certain things happened to him.. all in all I enjoyed it.. another one I have never read! falling in love with Munsch's writing all over again! ...more

I was intrigued by the title and the cover, but the story didn't intice or amuse me as I'd hoped. I was intrigued by the title and the cover, but the story didn't intice or amuse me as I'd hoped. ...more

Mar 11, 2011 Tam rated it it was ok

Normally I like Robert Munsch's books but I didn't like this one. Normally I like Robert Munsch's books but I didn't like this one. ...more

Jun 15, 2012 Jen rated it liked it

Shelley finds a little boy in her drawer who causes all sorts of problems in her house!

Jun 15, 2012 Quinn rated it really liked it

Another childhood favorite that I have read to both of my children.

Jan 12, 2014 Leah rated it liked it

Recommends it for: parents, teachers, anyone

Munsch's most adventurous story. Blends real life with some fantasy. Munsch's most adventurous story. Blends real life with some fantasy. ...more

I felt like this story never clearly made the point it was trying to make. It could have been so much better but instead fell flat and was just kind of 'meh'. I felt like this story never clearly made the point it was trying to make. It could have been so much better but instead fell flat and was just kind of 'meh'. ...more

Shelley finds a boy in her sock drawer and he causes all kinds of trouble at the house.

Genre: Fable, Traditional Literature
Grade: 1
Unique Feature: The book comes in many languages and can be viewed on Tumble library. I think it is a great lesson for some parents because it shows that some bad behavior may go away with attention and affection instead of yelling and punishment.

I really enjoyed listening/watching/reading the book in Spanish on Tumble biblioteca. It was entertaining and made translating the words much easier as the message was clearer. The illustrations are also well-

Genre: Fable, Traditional Literature
Grade: 1
Unique Feature: The book comes in many languages and can be viewed on Tumble library. I think it is a great lesson for some parents because it shows that some bad behavior may go away with attention and affection instead of yelling and punishment.

I really enjoyed listening/watching/reading the book in Spanish on Tumble biblioteca. It was entertaining and made translating the words much easier as the message was clearer. The illustrations are also well-done.

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Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Fordham University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and from Boston University in 1971 with a Master of Arts degree in anthropology.

He studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after jobs at orphanages and daycare centers. In 1973, he received a Master of Education in Chil

Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Fordham University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and from Boston University in 1971 with a Master of Arts degree in anthropology.

He studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after jobs at orphanages and daycare centers. In 1973, he received a Master of Education in Child Studies from Tufts University. In 1975 he moved to Canada to work at the preschool at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. He also taught in the Department of Family Studies at the University of Guelph as a lecturer and as an assistant professor. In Guelph he was encouraged to publish the many stories he made up for the children he worked with.

Munsch's wife delivered two stillborn babies in 1979 and 1980. Out of the tragedy, he produced one of his best-known books, Love You Forever. This book was listed fourth on the 2001 Publishers Weekly All-Time Best selling Children's Books list for paperbacks at 6,970,000 copies (not including the 1,049,000 hardcover copies). The Munsches have since become adoptive parents of Julie, Andrew and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!)

Munsch has obsessive-compulsive disorder and has also suffered from manic depression. In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that affected his ability to speak in normal sentences. He has recovered enough that he is able to perform live, but has put his writing career on hold until he is fully recovered.

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