A little green monster is stymied by a big red rock.
Small, horned Bif is walking along, munching on his breakfast cereal, when he bumps into the titular impediment, which blocks the path. Yelling at the rock doesn’t cause it to move, and neither does asking it politely. Bif “kicks,” “bashes,” “pushes,” and “pesters” the rock, to no avail. Blue Bop comes along and summons the Big Red Rock Eater, but her loose tooth prevents her from making much headway. The Small Blue Rock Singer has a powerful voice, but it can’t budge the rock. Neither can the Yellow Rock Crusher, the Green Rock Driller, the Orange Rock Scarer, the Pink Rock Sucker, the Purple Rock Tickler, nor even the Big Red Rocket. The monsters give up and decide to play, dancing in a conga line and finding themselves suddenly on the other side of the rock. But now Bif wants to finish his breakfast, and that big red rock is in the way….Stockham’s wry fable may leave its protagonist unenlightened, but child readers will have seen the obvious solution and will be thrilled at their perspicacity. The monsters are a totally un-frightening if snaggle-toothed bunch, benign smiles eliciting giggles rather than screams. They are defined by thick, soft, gray lines, while the rock is an imposing red blob textured by what looks like charcoal or black crayon.
A daffy paean to teamwork.
(Picture book. 3-6)