Stinky
(Toon Books Level 2)

K-Gr 2Stinky the monster is content in the smelly swamp that he shares with his pet toad and other friendly animals until a boy from the nearby town wanders into the area. Stinky is afraid of kids because they are so different from him. They like to take baths and eat apples and candy while he loves mud and pickled onions. When he tries to scare the boy away, he discovers that the boy is also fond of toads and enjoys exploring the muckiest part of the swamp, and the two become friends. The charming cartoon artwork, full of humorous details, complements the text, and the muted color scheme makes Stinky endearing rather than scary. The simple vocabulary and repetition of words make the text accessible for emergent readers, who will love the graphic-novel format. The engaging plot shows young readers that its possible to make friends with those who may seem very different from themselves."Mari Pongkhamsing, St. Perpetua School, Lafayette, CA" Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.