Happy Friday Everyone!
And you know what Friday means, right?
Perfect Picture Books!!!
(And only slightly less exciting, the WEEKEND!)
(oops… did I accidentally make that look MORE exciting?)
It just so happens that this weekend is a long weekend, which is why, as you are reading this, if I survive the blog talk radio interview I’m supposed to do first – GULP! – (will there ever come a time when I can do these things without wanting to go hide in the coat closet? :)) – I will be driving to collect number 4 for a couple days of rest and relaxation (probable translation, he’s out of clean clothes, so why not come home for a visit? :))
Was that a run-on sentence?
If you live anywhere between my house and the coast of Massachusetts, I’ll wave to you as I drive by 🙂
Anyway, here is my book for the day. I love it. I hope you will too! 🙂
Title: Love Monster
Written & Illustrated By: Rachel Bright
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2012, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: ages 2-5
Themes/Topics: being different, being yourself, acceptance, love
Opening: “This is a monster. (Hello, Monster.) I think you’ll agree, he’s a little bit funny-looking. To say the least. He lives in a world of cute, fluffy things. Which makes being funny-looking pretty, darn hard.“
Brief Synopsis: Monster has a hard time being a bit funny-looking in a world of cuteness, so he goes out looking for someone who will love him just the way he is.
Links To Resources: Shape Monsters Craft, Monster Bags (for Halloween treats or regular old lunch :)), Make A Messy Monster (if you wanted it to match this book you could make it red instead of the green that is pictured), Hand Print Monsters. This story would pair well with Mostly Monsterly by Tammi Sauer (another book about a monster whose insides don’t match the outsides)
Why I Like This Book: This book is so cute! Monster is rather funny-looking in his own “slightly hairy”, “googly-eyed” way, but underneath the hair he is sweet and sensitive and only wants to be loved for who he is. That is something we can all relate to 🙂 He searches high… and low… and middle-ish :)… looking for someone who will love him. Things get pretty dark. Literally 🙂 And just when he’s given up… well, I’m not going to TELL you – that would ruin the ending 🙂 The pictures are endearing, and there is a lot of humor to be found in the details. For writers, this is an example of a story that is beautifully done in about 235 words. Little kids will love the delightful pictures and spare text, and slightly older ones will appreciate the humor.
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
Now, I hope you all enjoy reading each other books! I have a date with Princess Blue Kitty (my car, for those of you who haven’t met her :)) PPBF bloggers, please leave your post-specific links on the list below so we can all come visit!
Have a great (long) weekend, everyone!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
When are you coming down to PA??? I want to meet Princess Blue Kitty! 😉
Great pick! This sounds very cute! 😀 I love how Monster looks – perfect for a monster – for an ostrich, um, not so much. 😉
Happy travels!
E
Glad you like it, Erik – it's very cute! And I might be in PA this summer – I've got another college visit summer coming up so Princess Blue Kitty, #5 and I will be traveling the lovely highways and byways of the Northeast 🙂
The book sounds adorable!
Hope your travels are safe and that your long weekend involves more than laundry 🙂
And what's this radio interview thing?
If it is anywhere near Wilkesbarre, or Scranton, email me! We live in that area! WOO!
WoW … this one has totally hooked me and reeled me in. The opening lines are perfect!
Safe travels to you and Blue Kitty!
How funny that the first three titles this week have the number three in them!
Some days I. Feel like this monster! I love his picture!
I love the monster illustration – it shows so much personality and emotion! I also really like it when I can find shorter books — sometimes my students can't sit for a long read aloud.
The cute little fellow drew me right in! Safe travels! :0)
The look of the Monster is what first grabbed my attention too! Too, too adorable. I think this would have been one of my favorite books if we had this when the kids were little. 🙂 We did have Sad Monster, Glad Monster and that was fun too.
Happy Friday, and safe travels, Susanna!
Great cover and theme for kids! Sounds like a great story. Safe travel!
Monster is just adorable! This looks like a good one for little ones. Enjoy your time with your son this weekend!
My grandblessings love friendly monsters – I'll be sure to look for this for them. Have a great weekend – safe driving!
I've read this book and it is so cute you want to take it home and keep it for your possible grandkids. I just love it. In fact I love all monster books and collect them in my mind. Thanks for introducing this one to us.
Have a GREAT weekend! 🙂
Sounds really cute! Have a lovely time with your family 🙂
My only problem I have with the book is that the monster is probably the cutest thing ever!
I looked at this book the other day and it is an excellent recommendation.
This is adorable!
Hi – I'm new to this site, and added my picture book (and would love to be reviewed someday) – thanks!
Hi Gia – nice to meet you! I'm afraid your link doesn't work and I can't figure out where your site is. In order to be on the link list, though, your Perfect Picture Book must follow the format and provide resources. If yours does, you're welcome to try entering it again so we can all come visit!
Glad you like it, Mike. It's got a lot to teach me about writing well in few words – that's for sure!
It really is! You've got to see it!
Thanks, Catherine! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
I love that you collect them in your mind, Clar 🙂 Have a great weekend too 🙂
I know, isn't he so cute? Thanks, Kirsten – I'm looking forward to it!
Thanks, Pat! 🙂
Awww. . . I just want to hug him! Sorry, but this has been an incredibly busy week, so I won't be posting. Hopefully next week.😜
I just read this one at the bookstore! B&N has it featured for Valentine's Day.
Poor lil' monster! I would drive for miles just to stand by the road to wave to you! Just not in the thousands!
Pat – thanks for alerting me-I updated my post to explain. I have a new spam blocker–you need to click one of the little pictures BELOW the comment box.
I have a monster that looks very much like this cute little thing. Mine makes some great noises. I'll have to look for this book. Thanks!
Wow! 235 is tiny. The opening lines are so conversational, I would never have guessed it would be so low. That's the best thing about author/illustrators. They can be so clever about using the picture book medium to tell the story in the best possible way. This will be a great book to study. Thanks for the review!
Did you like it, Wendy? Or is it just me? 🙂
No worries at ALL, Jarm! It's not a requirement 🙂 And I totally get it! A lot of weeks I feel too busy! Have a lovely restful weekend! 🙂
Great review of a really cute book, Susanna!
I am in awe of how you keep everything moving along…you blog consistently several times a week…and I know you have a busy life as well…not sure how you do it…but I'm grateful.:) Will time-management be part of the Making Picture Book Magic class? 🙂
What a cute monster. Well, I can already tell that my library list will be LONG this week.
I like how you tie the book to other resources! Thanks for the informing post.
I saw this book front-and-center at Barnes tonight, only I didn't have time to pick it up and read. Next time! I LOVE the look of this monster 😀
What a cute monster! Ill have to check this book out. Thanks, Susanna!
Glad you like it, Iza 🙂
He's so cute, isn't he? 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by to visit, Margo! Tying great books to resources is what Perfect Picture Books is all about – trying to make life a little easier for parents, teachers, homeschoolers etc 🙂
I think Enzo will like this one 🙂
It will be if you teach it to me, Vivian 🙂 I've decided that my word for the year (which I said I wasn't going to have) should be organization! I've got to figure out a way to make better use of my time so I can get everything done I want to get done and still have a little time each week for not working!
There are so many clever fun details in the art, too, Joanne, like his list of places to look 🙂 You will love this one!
I hope you like it, Rhythm 🙂
Julie, you will love this art. She uses “solar etching, which uses ultraviolet light to create printing plates.” (I copied that from the book jacket because I know nothing about art :))
Of course you know about art! I see that in all your PB picks! So there!
🙂
Thanks, Laura! And I hope they like the book – it's very cute 🙂
Thanks, Teresa! Yes, he's very cute 🙂 And the illustrations are both sweet and funny! 🙂
I think he's adorable (although I guess you shouldn't really say that about a monster :))