A guidebook that many kids won’t mind following.
Rules will keep you safe from Dennis.
In this fourth-wall–busting story, readers learn immediately that “If you break the rules, Dennis will eat you.” The first question is, who is Dennis? Dennis is a large purple monster, not even slightly threatening, with a goofy smile and a “weird thing” on one foot. Enumerated rules commence, ranging from practical (“You must sit on the floor”) to silly (“You are now required to moo like a cow”) to mindful (“Keep your eyes closed. Feel your heartbeat. Feel the floor”). The six unnamed children shown on almost every page display a variety of skin tones and hairstyles. This fills the bill for teachers or librarians looking for an active storytime choice, though the 11th and final rule (“Feed Dennis…THE BOOK OF RULES”) is impossible to carry out, making for a confusing ending. Furthermore, the thread of preachiness throughout, complimenting children on following rules that often align with the behavior adults desire from them, means that some young people will see this as a transparent attempt to get them to follow instructions outside of the story. Still, for groups of kids who want an excuse to make fish faces and give themselves bear hugs, this will occupy several entertaining minutes. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A guidebook that many kids won’t mind following. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 19, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-374-31454-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
The lunch is the star of this book; both plot and humor are otherwise predictable.
A maniacally cheery Mom and Dad give bored Ben a number of rainy-day activity suggestions, from reading to building a rocket to going on a dragon hunt, in Knapman’s silly boy-meets-monster tale.
Ben decides to build a fort instead, which alarms his parents, as forts, of course, attract monsters. Even in the fort, though, playing at pirates, knights and wizards is still so boring that Ben wishes for a monster. Suddenly, Burple, a green boy monster, pops in with a lunch box. “He seems harmless,” is Ben’s last thought before the monster inexplicably starts howling. Burple’s pink, snaggletoothed, dog-collared, amorphous lunch takes advantage of the commotion and escapes. The boys wrangle the “disgusting packed lunch” and stuff it back into the lunch box and sit on it. Monster and kid bond and proceed to read, build a rocket and hunt a dragon—sound familiar? Schauer’s crayonlike digital illustrations are bright and cartoonish. The background details are sure to catch youngsters’ attentions, especially the evolution of Burple’s lunch from snack to monster pet. Still, Knapman’s previous foray into unorthodox friendships, Guess What I Found in Dragon Wood, illustrated by Gwen Millward (2008), was cleverer and more successful in both concept and execution.
The lunch is the star of this book; both plot and humor are otherwise predictable. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-58925-176-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A child-friendly introduction to the challenging work of knowing one’s mind.
The child narrator in this story has a Want Monster. Want Monsters aren’t bad; everyone has one. However, this one has grown much too big.
The protagonist’s Want Monster, Oskar, is “ginormous.” When the child, depicted as a pale-skinned, freckled stick figure with a large round head and three strands of sticking-up hair, eats a cupcake, Oskar insists on four more. When the child plays a video game, Oskar forces continued play, to the point of repetitive stress injury to the thumbs. The child realizes that always listening to Oskar leads to unhappiness, but fighting or outrunning Oskar is impossible. The child tries instead to just let Oskar be Oskar without always reacting to him. It’s difficult, but over time Oskar shrinks into “Oskarcito,” a tiny Want Monster. Published by a press known for its titles on personal growth and spirituality, this picture book successfully introduces children to the concept of using mindfulness to observe one’s thoughts and desires. With its universal message of taming the impulse to overindulge, this title is relevant for both Buddhist and secular audiences. The humor, bright color palette, and sketchlike quality of the illustrations keep the Want Monsters from being too scary for young readers. However, because the action in the illustrations takes place on just the bottom third of the page, they can at times be hard to read.
A child-friendly introduction to the challenging work of knowing one’s mind. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 21, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-61180-365-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Shambhala
Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2017
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