Colouring Book Theatre :Stretch Armstrong and Stretch Monster

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‘Stretch Armstrong and Stretch Monster" by Resource Publishers

I think every child of the 1970s at least remembers Stretch Armstrong. I've relayed my own childhood experience with the big guy several times here. Also, Stretch Monster is the vintage toy I just seem unable to own, I've tried for like 20 years to get my hands on one.
I was kind of excited to get this book because I thought maybe it would have some sort of grand backstory and adventure for the Stretch couple which is what you'd get from Whitman or Rand McNally.

Although, the Cincinatti based "Resource Publishers" (which sounds like a subsidary of Kenner) would introduce me to one of the strangest books I've seen in a long time
:

More after the jump.

So yeah, it's pretty much just starts out as a brochure of how fun the Stretch Armstrong toys are and it seems to swipe several of the images off the packaging.

My cousin had a friend who said he could do this.


Enter Stretch Monster for pages and pages of cuddling. The children are now gone and the Stretch figures now appear to be regular size.

We tried the Swamp Seize once, that's how my daughter was born!

Then the whole thing detours while Stretch goes to the zoo and we're treated to PAGES AND PAGES OF ANIMALS. Which is much better than telling us anything about Stretch and why he doesn't wear clothes...

But it gets dumber, Stretch Monster now visits a circus and takes in the freak show. A monster, who lives in a swamp takes in a circus sideshow complete with cotton candy. We're treated to pages of clowns and high wire acts too, while smiling old Stretch Monsters makes the odd cameo. I don't think I want a Stretch Monster anymore...

"I'll take things that wouldn't fly in a colouring book today for $500 Alex"

And it ends with one word, I'm going to go lay down now.

Previously reviewed Colouring Books
If you have a colouring book you'd like to guest review, I'd like to hear from you!

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More...

[HardyGirl]

Ok, that was weird.

[Werewolf]

Weird. I wonder if this helps explains why Stretch collectors seem to be so odd.

[darkmonkeygod]

Wow, I just got this and a batch of others that are Kenner products (incl SSPs!) after casualy looking for them for a decade or more. Cool that you've posted it.

[Earth 2 Chris]

How telling is it that the Circus Fat Lady is smaller than 75% of the obese people you see tooling around on motorized carts at Wal-Mart nowadays?

That is a WEIRD coloring book. I had Stretch and Stretch Monster, and let me tell you, they didn't socialize. Although Stretch Monster did go with me to Show N' Tell in Kindergarten.

Chris

[The Toyroom]

What a weird trip that was....

[Karen-bionic-fan]

LOL cute and my turn again to tell you all "one more time" iv just got a MIB Stretch hahahah still happy about that , but times change can you imaging someone now saying they was out the back stretching a nude man with small shorts on hahahahah not very PC now its it oh how i loved the innocent 70s

[Mego Superboy Prime]

I had this coloring book before.

[starsky]

never saw it before! pretty neat. i'm surprised they didnt come out with a stretch tv show with the likeness of the handsome figure back then.