SKU: 20577692631
battle not with monsters book

battle not with monsters book Not A Monster (Hardcover)

Sale price$21.31 Regular price$23.68
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $5.92 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 20 - Jul 25

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

battle not with monsters book Not A Monster (Hardcover)By: Claudia Guadalupe Martnez Illustrated by: Laura Gonzlez With Spanish vocabulary and a clever color concept, this poetic picture book shares the life cycle of beloved amphibianthe axolotlin its natural habitat. An axolotl may look like one, but it is certainly Not a Monster. This curious creature, made popular by Minecraft, is actually a salamander that will never lose its gills or fins. Not a Monster explores the traits of the axolotl, the Aztec

By: Claudia Guadalupe Martínez / Illustrated by: Laura González

With Spanish vocabulary and a clever color concept, this poetic picture book shares the life cycle of beloved amphibian—the axolotl—in its natural habitat.

An axolotl may look like one, but it is certainly Not a Monster. This curious creature, made popular by Minecraft, is actually a salamander that will never lose its gills or fins. Not a Monster explores the traits of the axolotl, the Aztec origin myth about the species, and the way pollution is affecting its natural habitat: the canals of Xochimilco in Mexico City. 

Fun and engaging, this playful and informative read-aloud introduces curious readers on one cool character who is NOT a monster!

[TABS]
Look Inside

Author & Illustrator

Claudia Guadalupe Martinez, author

Claudia Guadalupe Martínez grew up in sunny El Paso, Texas where she learned that letters form words from reading the subtitles of old westerns with her father. She now lives with her husband and 3 children in Chicago.

Read more about Claudia.


Laura Gonzalez, illustrator

Read more about Laura.

Awards & Honors
  • Bank Street College of Education's Best Children's Books of the Year 2024
Editorial Reviews

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Deep in a murky, azul-tinged body of water, the axolotl swims under the cover of the moon.

Along a canal near an unspecified city “that was once a great empire,” an egg grows and transforms; the creature inside gains fins, gills, and a bit more before it hatches into a tadpole. Four long limbs soon sprout, and the creature’s color deepens into an inky black. It scours for food beneath “los lirios rosados” (pink water lilies), resting under a floating garden. The creature is “Not a Monster”—it’s an axolotl. Martínez devotes the first half of the book to chronicling the axolotl’s life journey—from birth to mating—in eclectic, whimsical strokes, egged on by González’s sublime, earthy artwork. It’s a tenderhearted ode to the water-based salamander. From there, the axolotl’s tale pivots to spotlight the creature’s connection to Xolotl, the Aztec god of monstrous things, said to have leapt into a lake and turned into an axolotl. “Guided by the stories their abuelos have told them,” two friends “row their chalupa morada” into the canals, spearheading cleanup efforts to remove plastic and bottles from the water. The author brilliantly positions the restoration of the endangered axolotl’s natural habitats as a kind of modern rebirth infused with hope. Spanish words pop up throughout this sly call to action, and color words are bolded; definitions are provided in a glossary.

Rejoice and rally for the axolotl! (author’s note)

Booklist

Martínez introduces an amphibian exclusively found in Mexico in this inviting nonfiction picture book, and readers get to watch it grow from a single cell to an axolotl. This unusual salamander is not a monster, though it's described as an "Aztec god of monstrous things" that jumped in the water in Aztec mythology. In her artwork, González honors that mythology with Aztec motifs and pictograms tucked into the illustrations, while comprehensively depicting the axolotl's growing phases. Once the axolotl is fully grown, the story introduces two children searching for the mythological creature in the canals. Instead, they find pollution, which threatens the axolotl's habitat, but they help clean the water, eventually revealing a collection of axolotls eggs beginning to hatch. Martínez sprinkles plenty of Spanish words throughout the story, which are defined in a glossary; color terms also appear in their matching hue. The term "monster" is used gently, without instilling fear. With beautiful watercolor illustrations, this story compellingly integrates folktales and biology, as well as important facts about environmental awareness.

Children's Literature

In the canals around Mexico City swims a creature the ancient Aztec people called the water monster. Then, the canals were a great lake with water pure and blue as the sky. The water monster grew and thrived. But now the once-blue water is murky, polluted by people. As a result, the water monster has begun to disappear. The abuelos say that when the last of the water monsters is gone, it will be the end of paradise. Weaving fact and mythology, this nonfiction picture book tracks the lifecycle of axolotls from egg to full-grown salamander. This book is written for shared reading. In the science classroom, teachers can use the book to encourage discussion about both the lifecycle of this unique salamander and related topics, such as care for the environment and pollution. An up-close read with parents or caregivers will encourage talk of the integrated Spanish words. The tight narrative and large, bright pictures fully engage readers. Once the child and adult have read the book together, the child will be itching to get hands-on and touch the full-color illustrations that accompany the story. Highly recommended for ages three to seven, this bright and beautifully illustrated book is perfect for read-alouds or story time and is truly a standout.

Downloadables

Details

English Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-303-7

Spanish Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-483-6

English Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-62354-569-7

Spanish Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-62354-561-1

Ages: 3–7
Page count: 32
11 x 8 1/2

[/TABS]

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 20577692631

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell battle not with monsters book

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.7 ★★★★★
Based on 27 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
E
Verified Purchase
Emily Gutierrez
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 2
Not Worth the Price
Color: Black, Size: Queen
I expected more. The images are a bit misleading with the amount of fluff and thickness the product actually has. Despite following the instructions, it’s pretty flat. It had a funky chemically smell to it, so I sprayed with some Febreeze. Honestly in my opinion I don’t think it’s worth $60. I think if you want something similar, go to Marshals or TJ Maxx.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2026
J
John S.
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Makes my camp mattress so much better.
Color: Black, Size: Full
I'm in a small motorhome and this has helped my sleep quality a ton. I got rid of my big mattress because the 2 camp mattresses I have are smaller in size, but a bit dense than the mattress I had. Uncomfortable for anyone that sleeps on them for long periods and when I come from biking or hiking the pain was making it hard to sleep. These have improved my sleep quality immensely. It also, to my surprise fit well, the cushions are only a few inches. These are up to 18, but the edge is nearly a perfect fit at the start. The straps keep it from moving. The length and width using 2 of the bed rolls is nearly perfect. On mattress the deeper part of the pocket, would fit perfectly. The quality feels great, lightweight and washable, this is one of those items I wouldn't have likely ordered, but trying it is near priceless for my usage. Couldn't imagine how good it must be on a bed.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
Works very well!
It is made of good quality and has definitely helped with my hot flashes at night. Love the color. Soft and light weight. Only thing is it tends to slide off here n there but its no big deal.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2026
P
Verified Purchase
Paula Britto
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
The best comforter I've ever had. Like being wrapped in clouds.
Color: Light Grey, Size: King (104''x90''), Color: Light Grey, Size: King (104''x90'')
I've been suffering for a long time with night sweats due to menopause and have been experiencing insomnia. Even in winter, I sleep with a fan on. I would wake up several times during the night, alternating between feeling cold from being uncovered and hot from being under the duvet. Well, after much research on Amazon, I decided on this product, and it was the best decision I've ever made. I have no words to describe the comfort, the softness of the fabric, and how cool it keeps me. It's thin, but it's cozy and doesn't slip on the bed. Tonight I wasn't fighting a battle in my bed.It really is exactly as described in the product description. I slept without feeling hot and didn't even turn on the fan (my house's heating system wasn't on). I highly recommend it, especially for women going through menopause. It's worth every penny. I think I'll even buy another one in a different color...
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2026
S
Verified Purchase
shana felten
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
Cool blanket
Color: Light Grey, Size: King (104''x90'')
Best blanket we have bought yet ! Stays cool and light weight!! Perfect for those Florida Summer nights
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2026

recommand products