THE EYEMONGER

A strange creature strips citizens of their privacy in this picture book.

The Eyemonger, a creature with “one-hundred-three eyes,” comes to town, vowing to keep citizens safe. They readily accept the Eyemonger’s watchful eyes and “elect him to lead” but soon become uncomfortable by their decreasing privacy as the creature constantly watches them from a tower. He even sends winged eyeballs to peer into homes and buildings. Although the citizens voice their distress, the Eyemonger refuses to stop. When a light-skinned citizen named Griffin boards up his windows, the Eyemonger is infuriated. He believes Griffin is hiding something and returns with an army of rhinos to knock down his home. When the Eyemonger notices that Griffin’s paintings were ruined in the raid, he realizes he made a mistake. He apologizes to Griffin and says from now on, he will “look only when you want me to see.” Solove expertly underscores the importance of personal privacy in a way that young readers will understand. Offering reminders like “Privacy is essential. We all need some time when nobody sees,” the tale serves as a metaphor for a significant social issue. Beckwith’s appealing illustrations skillfully mirror the story’s mood. For example, as citizens grow weary of the Eyemonger’s violations, the images feature gloomier tones. The excellent backdrops include brick buildings, bustling streets, and multicolored skies. Up-close depictions of fantasy elements, like the Eyemonger’s appearance as a purple, mustachioed, waistcoat-wearing creature, are particularly clever.

A well-crafted, important social tale with real-world relevance.