Title: Monster
Author: Andrew Daddo
Illustrator: Bruce Whatley
Publisher: HarperCollins, $24.99 RRP
Format: Hard cover
ISBN: 9780733322754
For ages: Pre-school
Type: Picture Book
About: When you open a book created by the impressive team of Daddo and Whatley, expectations are high. One hopes for a picture book of high quality, with instant appeal to kids, a splash of humour but nothing too predictable.
Monster delivers it all.
When a little boy discovers a monster in his room, of course he has trouble sleeping. He calls out to his parents, hoping they will help him and get the monster – who is ugly, aggro, has blood and guts on his tail and smells – away. No such luck.
Instead, Mum and Dad get all sarcastic (“Oooooooooh, stop, you’re scaring me!”), before impatiently counting to three… and he is surely in for some trouble. After all, he is annoying his parents instead of sleeping.
But sometimes monsters have surprises in store.
This story is, quite simply, wonderful. Whatley’s awesome illustrations make an impression right from the cover, showing a monster that is huge and imposing, yet the eyes show such feeling that you can’t help but be drawn in to love him. The little boy might not want him in his room, but readers will want to reach out their arms and give him a great big cuddle.
Add to that Daddo’s funny, witty, honest text and this collaboration is a winner that won’t fail to impress. Except the story’s little boy, that is; he thinks this monster is totally “dis-gus-ting”.
Reading this tale to children is a treat for parents and kids alike, with the descriptive narrative providing lots of fun and the surprise finale ensuring giggles all around.
This book will be available online from 1st July
Author website
