Christine Baldacchino has always written with a soft, intuitive understanding of children’s emotional worlds, and Monster Mender is one of her most tender offerings. At first glance, Dot is a confident healer — a young girl who knows how to mend monster scrapes, bumps, bruises, and all the quirky ailments that come with being a monster. Her toolkit is full, her skills are sharp, and she approaches each creature with certainty and care.
But everything shifts when a monster arrives with no visible injury at all.
No booped beak.
No burned finger.
No tangled antlers.
Just sadness.
Going Beyond Healing
Dot, who has always relied on her ability to fix, suddenly finds herself stuck. There is nothing she can treat, nothing she can bandage, nothing she can repair. And in that moment, Baldacchino delivers the book’s most powerful message: not all pain is visible, and not all healing requires tools.
Dot discovers something much deeper — that healing sometimes begins with presence. Being there. Listening. Sitting beside someone in their sadness without rushing to solve it. Offering comfort in the smallest ways that become the biggest gifts.
This revelation is gentle, universal, and profoundly resonant. It mirrors what so many of us learn in parenting, friendship, and community building: that sadness, even the very sad kind, softens when someone chooses to stay close.
Monster Mender becomes more than a story — it becomes a reminder that emotional support is a form of healing too.
Why This Book Resonates With Nikki (Age 12)
Nikki has always gravitated toward stories that blend imagination with emotional truth, and Monster Mender hits that sweet spot perfectly. At 12, she’s navigating friendships, feelings, and the complexities of growing up — and Baldacchino’s story gives her a safe, magical space to explore those emotions.
She loves that the monsters aren’t scary; they’re expressive, and relatable. They remind her that everyone — even the fiercest-looking monster — has feelings worth understanding.
Most of all, Nikki connected with Dot’s realization that helping doesn’t always mean fixing.
“I like that the monsters feel real. They’re not perfect, and that makes them easier to understand.” ~ Nikki
A Momma Braga Final Reflection
As a parenting advocate and storyteller, I deeply appreciate books that honour emotional literacy — and Monster Mender does this with grace. It teaches children that empathy is not about having the right answers; it’s about showing up. It encourages conversations about feelings, misunderstandings, and the gentle art of being present for someone who needs you.
Christine Baldacchino continues to shine as a writer who respects children’s emotional landscapes, and Monster Mender is a beautiful testament to her thoughtful storytelling. This book belongs on every home bookshelf, classroom reading nook, and bedtime routine.
It’s a story that heals — quietly, softly, and in all the ways that matter.
Until next time…Happy Parenting!
~ Momma Braga
*Please note that this book was provided in exchange of an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own.
