How to Tame a Mummy Monster

By Author / Illustrator

Rochelle Falconer

Genre

Family & Home

Age range(s)

Publisher

OUP Children's Books

ISBN

9781382062770

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

07-08-2025

Synopsis

Junie and Ruby bicker all day. They bicker over breakfast, about clothes, and even over a pencil they find on the floor. They are so busy bickering they don't notice that Mummy is acting differently . . . she's huffing, she's puffing, and she's sprouting FUR!When Mummy becomes the cheeky Mummy Monster, Junie and Ruby get a taste of their own medicine. They need to find a way to turn their Mummy back to normal . . . and to do that, they must put their differences aside.

Rochelle Falconer's debut picture book is a relatable story about family life, sibling rivalry, and mischievous mums with lots of humour and plenty of heart. Find out more in our Q&A with Rochelle Falconer!

Download Extract

Reviews

Lizi

Constantly bickering and arguing, sisters Junie and Ruby suddenly have to learn how to get along after realising that their fighting has lead to mummy turning in a monster! With fur, ears and a tail, the girls have to work together to see if they can restore mummy back to her usual self.

How to Tame a Mummy Monster is a story about getting along but it's entertaining and engaging for children. The illustrations are engaging and funny and my six-year-old got the message of the story straight away!

It's a great addition to your bookshelf or to a class bookshelf. The story covers what you can achieve when you work together and how important being kind and helpful is.

Picture book / Reviewed by Lizi Coombs, teacher

Maria

How to tame a Mummy Monster is a funny story with an important message about family life and siblings. The front cover depicts two angry children and a huge, blue monster and definitely makes the reader inquisitive about what is going on and why there is a blue monster.

Open the pages and you will soon discover family life with mum and siblings Ruby and Junie. However family life revolves around arguments, squabbling, unkindness, teasing and fighting - until mum turns into a Mummy Monster with funny horns, pointy ears and a fluffy tail! Ruby and Junie can't believe what has happened as Mummy Monster mirrors their bad behaviour which shocks them. Can being polite, kind and considerate instead bring Mummy back?

This clever story by Rochelle Falconer explores sibling rivalry and the impact it has on family life and others. The Mummy Monster is an imaginative way to explore these themes and how our actions and words have an impact on others. Children will love talking about the bad behaviour of the sisters and Mummy Monster (who, because it is a story, can do almost anything!) The illustrations are bold and colourful and the double spread of Mummy Monster is eye catching and a great addition to the story.

How to Tame a Mummy Monster is a great text for the classroom and could be used effectively in PSHE lessons exploring family life and behaviours. It could also be used to explore empathy and understanding that in families and with friends we need to be tolerant and aware of each other, or Mummy Monster may appear in our lives, too!

This story also introduces lots of new vocabulary such as squabble, disagree, stunned, ruined etc which would be excellent to learn and use in oracy work about the book. I can see How to Tame a Mummy Monster becoming a favourite because it is fun, hilarious and imaginative! Well done Rochelle Falconer!

Picture book / Reviewed by Maria, teacher