"Cramped Quarters" Halloween book

Today's Monster Memories are of:
The "Cramped Quarters" children's book
(Click on any images to view full size.)

Although "The Crowded Coffin" would have made a better title, it might not have sold as many copies to the overprotective parents.

I bought this for my daughter in 1995 for Halloween of that year. She was 11 at the time, and enjoyed the Halloween-related things we did all during October. This coffin-shaped book was fun because of the monster artwork, and the lights and sounds that accompanied it. Two LED's went through the eyeholes in each monster's face, and blinked when you turned the page, while a banshee-like scream sounded. I thought you might enjoy seeing it, so I took photos of each page on a seasonally-appropriate background to spice things up a bit.

The Monster's new Nikes made him a little more approachable for the children. Throwing them in lakes was much easier now!

The Count breathed in the fresh air as he shoved the Monster out. It was a little known fact the Frankenstein's farts were real killers!

The Teenage Werewolf's case of claustrophobia made it get a little hairy when he found himself in such tight places.

The Mummy, never wrapped too tightly in the first place, was freaking out over the rats burrowing in his bandages.

The Swamp Thing, ticked over being confused with that idiot Man-Thing once again, was itching to get out and call DC about copyright infringement.

Glad to be rid of the smelly compost heap, the skeletal pirate swore he'd never be first into the coffin again.

The major Universal monsters are present, in the usual order as they are mentioned; Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolfman, Mummy... but where you would logically expect to find the Creature from the Black Lagoon next, they substitute Swamp Thing. Strange! But at least they saved the best for last; the always dependable Pirate Skeleton. I look forward to reading it with my three-year-old grandson this Halloween season!

Here's a photo of this year's indoor Halloween village I set up. It's one part of the living room decorations, but not all of it. More pictures to come!