TINY TANTRUM

A hairy purple monster and its friends help a little white girl remember to keep her composure.

Her name is Tiny Tantrum, and she has quite a temper. She smiles when she gets her own way, but tell her to wash her hair or go to bed, and she’ll scream so loud that windows rattle and birds fall out of their trees. One day, as Tiny is preparing a huge tantrum, a hairy purple monster arrives with a warning…in rhyme. Tiny is charmed, and the duo become inseparable companions. When Tiny balks at eating her broccoli, another monster appears, a mint-green one wearing a chef’s hat. He says, “When I eat peas or broccoli, I do a little wiggle. / Vegetables taste better if you eat them with a giggle.” The dynamic duo quickly becomes a terrific trio. On the playground, a mustard-yellow monster reminds Tiny of the importance of sharing, and at bedtime a hot-pink monster extols the joys of tooth-brushing. Though Tiny is tired, her four new monster friends want to “bounce all night!” It’s her turn to offer an encouraging verse. Soon, everyone is tucked in and fast asleep. Diverting tantrums with wit makes good sense. Crowe’s monster verses are crisp and upbeat, but the rest of her rhyming text lacks sharpness. Similarly, Okstad’s illustrations often feature cluttered, confusing compositions, and her palette’s pallid.

So-so.