Quit Calling Me a Monster!

"It's not like I ever call you names, do I? I could easily be like, 'Look at that little meat snack over there.'" A pear-shaped, purple-fur-covered, er, creature speaks directly to listeners. "I'm no monster! Just because I have horns. And wild eyes. And fangs..." He might howl, roar, and growl; he could be hiding under the bed or in the closet -- but people shouldn't be afraid of him. "It really hurts my feelings." This not-a-monster's appearance and behavior belie his message; the cognitive dissonance between text and pictures is what makes the book funny. Shea's kinetic illustrations take full advantage of the silly premise and offer Floyd -- that's the narrator's name, by the way: Floyd Peterson -- loads of character. Jittery lines and bold background colors make the pages pop with nervous energy as Floyd delivers his impassioned defense. He closes with an undeniable point that inadvertently takes the bite out of his argument: "Yep. I'm a monster with excellent manners! Um...I didn't mean...I'm not a...um..." Oops. Pair this with John's and Shea's previous collaboration, I Will Chomp You! (rev. 7/15), to keep those little meat snacks on their toes. kitty flynn

A pear-shaped, purple-fur-covered creature speaks directly to listeners. "I'm no monster!" This not-a-monster's appearance and behavior belie his message; the cognitive dissonance between text and pictures is what makes the book funny. Shea's kinetic illustrations take full advantage of the silly premise and offer loads of character. Jittery lines and bold background colors make the pages pop with nervous energy.