Quit Calling Me a Monster!

In this extended monologue from the team behind I Will Chomp You!, a hairy, purple, bean-shaped blob with claws argues that being called a monster--as natural as it might seem--hurts his feelings. "Mommy, save me from that monster!" hollers one child as Shea pictures the monster in the supermarket with his reading glasses on, checking out the Monster Bran. "It's not like I ever call you names, do I?" the creature asks. He eventually concedes the point ("Okay! I'm technically a monster") but notes that he would rather be called by name: "Please call me Floyd Peterson from now on." A final, deadpan flurry of speech balloons demonstrates the difference: "Daddy, I think there's a monster in my closet!" "No, son, it's just Floyd Peterson." "Oh... okay. Good night." Though this is broadly an examination of fear, it's also a look at the damage wrought by generalizing. In that last exchange, readers see that calling the monster Floyd brings him closer, makes him known--a friend, almost. It's not just good comedy but a genuinely thought-provoking exercise. Ages 3-7. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Aug.)

PreS-Gr 2--Floyd Peterson is sick and tired of being called a monster. "Just because I have horns. And wild eyes. And clompy feet. And long toenails. And crazy hair. And fangs. And a huge, toothy smile that glows in the dark." That doesn't mean that he's a monster. Children really hurt his feelings when they scream and run when he is grocery shopping or simply trying to sleep under a bed. He thinks it's time everyone learned some manners and called him by his real name, Floyd Peterson. Luckily, by the end of the text, Floyd has finally made himself heard while hiding in a closet. Shea's signature illustrations with bold lines and vivid colors are a perfect match for the minimal text on each page. Pairing this book with Ed Emberley's Go Away, Big Green Monster or Jon Stone's The Monster at the End of This Book will make a fun, interactive monster-themed storytime even more enjoyable. VERDICT A perfect choice for a rollicking read-aloud, library collections, and picture book fans everywhere.--Brooke Newberry, La Crosse Public Library, WI