Mo’s mustache? Magnifique! (Picture book. 3-6)
Monster + mustache = “Huzzah!”—with a soupçon of cool.
“Mo just got a mustache. / A BIG, BLACK, beautiful mustache.” All the other monsters are impressed. Tutu says, “It’s superific!” Nib says, “Dude! Awesome.” Knot says, “I say! What a splendid mustache. Nicely trimmed!” Soon each of the monsters appears, be-mustached. Each hairy facial adornment is different. “Bob, Bill and Ben all got EXTRA-LONG and super-squiggly mustaches. They were on sale!” Mo expresses his dismay: “WHAAA?!” So Mo bids farewell to his happening mustache and decides to rock out a “LONG, LINED, lovely scarf.” Every monster follows suit. Like Queen Victoria, “Mo is not amused.” “WHY IS EVERYBODY COPYING ME?!” And all the monsters confess that they emulate him because they respect his taste and his style. “You’re one hip, happening hombre!” Surprised, Mo suggests a fashion show. The monsters all show off their own styles…and Mo brings his rainbow afro! Author/illustrator Clanton’s supersimple line-drawn monsters in pastel colors perfectly communicate the big emotions of Mo’s tale. The half text/ half speech-bubble narrative will engage storytime audiences and lapsitters with a minimum of inflection on the reader’s part. Requests for repeats are a certainty, and small ones will learn a lesson about individuality while enjoying this delightfully fun monster tale.
Mo’s mustache? Magnifique! (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-77049-538-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist.
Can anyone be perfect?
Beatrice Bottomwell always does everything right. “Most people in town didn’t even know Beatrice’s name. They just called her ‘The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes,’ because for as long as anyone could remember, she never did.” One Thursday though, she almost does something wrong (she drops some eggs while cooking at school but catches them just in time). Straightforward text describes Beatrice’s predicament as, unnerved, she ponders her almost-error and begins to worry. What if she really does do something wrong? Brightly colored watercolors and gentle humor combine to portray Beatrice’s eventful day, her growing fear and her sprightly pet hamster. During a school talent show, Beatrice finally makes a real mistake—in front of everyone. How will she cope? Learning how to relax enough to laugh and simply be herself just might do the trick. While the plot is predictable and the solution to the problem fairly pat, this is a well-intentioned story, full of acceptance and goodwill. It will be especially useful in a therapeutic setting; it may be a real comfort to a child who is afraid of making mistakes, while children dealing with similar issues will also find reassurance here.
A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5544-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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