THE LOCH MESS MONSTER
by Helen Lester ; illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
Beware the Loch Mess monster!
The legend of the Loch Ness monster is not exactly true. There is no single monster—there are three! Nessie, Fergus, and their wee laddie, Angus, live peacefully together beneath the surface of the lake, obeying proper monster etiquette by following five basic monster rules. All is well until Angus’ untidy ways result in a grottie mess and break rule No. 2 (“Always pick up after yourself”), which leads to an extended stay in his room that’s designed to keep his mess from spreading. Believable, appealing characters and pitch-perfect pacing combine nicely with Lester’s always-humorous text and Munsinger’s hilariously detailed illustrations in this cheerful cautionary tale, as the entertaining Angus, unbothered, simply lets his mess pile up—and up. Before long, he is breaking rule No. 1 (“NevereverEVER go up to the surface of the loch”). What hazardous mysteries await? What strange creatures will Angus see? And how can his problem ever be solved? A welcome addition to any collection, this enjoyable selection will have young readers laughing out loud and maybe even straightening up their rooms in seconds flat (or at least seriously considering the possibility of doing so). A glossary of Scottish terms is included.
A lighthearted paean to the importance of cleanliness.
(Picture book. 3-6)