Larf

Spires's characters tend to have uneasy relationships with both themselves and their environments--from Binky the Space Cat, an adventuring feline who doesn't leave his house, to Small Saul, a gentle pirate among ruffians. Larf fits right in with that crew, a gentle worrywart of a sasquatch who loves his peaceful, out-of-the-way life in the woods. But when he reads that a sasquatch will be appearing in nearby Hunderfitz, he realizes that his life could change for the better with a friend ("He could share hair grooming tips. And his witty commentary on cheesy movies would no longer go to waste"). Things don't go as planned, but Larf still ends up with a chance at a furry friendship. Humor has always been a strong suit for Spires, and her drily funny storytelling ("Suddenly, Lark spots the other sasquatch! But something doesn't seem quite right. Why are its eyeballs not moving? Is that a zipper down its belly?") and drolly detailed illustrations (such as the beret and fake beard that constitute Larf's "disguise") will entertain children, older siblings, and adults alike. Ages 3-7. (Apr.)

K-Gr 3--Larf is a big, lovable sasquatch who believes that he is one of a kind--until he reads in the newspaper that a sasquatch is going to make an appearance in a nearby town. As much as he has tried to stay hidden from the public, Larf must meet him. But what if they don't get along? He tries to dress incognito, which is hard for a seven-foot beast to do, and heads off to town with his pet rabbit humorously strapped in a baby carrier. The noise and hubbub of the town are frightening and disturbing. How can this other sasquatch stand it? When he finally meets him, he discovers that he is a fake: a person in a sasquatch suit. Disappointed, he heads off to catch a bus home where he meets...a beautiful female sasquatch who had come to town for the same reason he had. Larf is nicer than Shrek but the happily-ever-after endings are the same. Children love books about creatures that are different and they will surely love this one. The story has humor and sweetness. The illustrations are big and wonderful, and Larf is given space to be himself in all of them. His bunny in a harness is repeatedly funny, and when he meets Shurl, she has a tiny pet hen cupped in her enormous hand. Larf is sure to draw laughs.--Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME