A monstrously good read.
What kinds of toys does your little monster like?
Readers jump right into the action with the first two lines of text: “Monsters like all kinds of toys. What will they play with today?” From there, each page uses simple, declarative sentences to introduce a new monster and their toy of choice. Caregivers and other adults may be tickled by the juxtaposition of regular toddler activities with monstrous illustrations—for instance, a purple monster with dinosaurlike spikes smiles while playing with plush mice and a homemade dollhouse created from a box with an open hardback book as the pitched roof (“Megan makes a mouse house”). The intended audience may not appreciate the humorous contrast, but they will be drawn in by the soft tones and slightly fuzzy lines of the silkscreen illustrations. The closing images feature a blue monster with an inscrutable face, a broken robot toy, and the suggestion that all playtime must eventually end: “But Ramona needs a rest. So Bernard brings a blanket and a book.” It’s the gentlest hint that everyone, regardless of species, should consider taking a nap now and then. The solid board-book construction will ensure that this title stays around for many future nap times to come.
A monstrously good read. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Nov. 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5362-2655-3
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2022
A trio of monsters enjoy Halloween festivities in this pumpkin-shaped board-book offering.
A fuzzy blue critter with horns, accompanied by a purple dinosaurlike creature and yellow beastie with pigtails, selects a pumpkin from a patch, carves it and takes it to a jack-o’-lantern contest. The rhyming text, with one line per page, is forced and doesn’t scan: “Pumpkin, pumpkin, big and steady, / Costumes and carving, time to get ready!” While the three central characters are appropriately toddler-friendly, monsters dressing up for Halloween is a bit of a conceptual stretch. The shiny orange foil cover and the bright orange pumpkins within are eye-catching, but the rest of the palette—pale blues, greens, grays and browns—causes some of the characters to fade into the scenery in Marts’ quirky cartoons. This slight slice of pumpkin pie will tempt few little trick-or-treaters. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)
Pub Date: June 24, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-545-49332-1
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 16, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
A delightfully creepy spin on an old favorite.
The classic movement song gets a thrilling twist.
Nearly every child in America knows the song “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” and most enjoy clapping hands, stomping feet, and spinning around to its rhythm. This board book adapts that rhythm and filters it through the creepy hues of Halloween. Verses include “If you’re spooky and you know, it clap your hands,” “If you’re naughty and you know it, snap your fingers,” and “If you’re hairy and you know it, jump up and down!” Each verse is accompanied by an illustration of different traditional Halloween monsters, including vampires, werewolves, and mummies, getting in on the fun. It’s unclear whether the double-page spreads include multiple iterations of one monster or several separate, identical monsters. Little readers who are developmentally inclined to believe the latter may be confused when they reach the final double-page spread, which features one each of all the adorable monsters at one big Halloween party dancing together. The illustrations are colored with the usual green, purple, and orange–heavy scheme most Halloween books employ. Adults looking for an amusing way to introduce small children to the tricks and treats of Halloween will find this mostly fills the bill.
A delightfully creepy spin on an old favorite. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: July 26, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0165-1
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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