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Summary
Summary
This laugh-out-loud book describes the many differences found between monsters. Some monsters will eat anything; some are picky. Some monsters talk and talk and talk; some are quiet. But ultimately, as this hilarious book makes clear, all monsters are absolutely, positively, completely perfectly wonderful . . . just the way they are!
David Milgrim's spare text and colorful, contemporary illustrations are perfect for beginning readers. And for anyone who's ever felt like the odd one out, this is a funny, playful, and comforting story.
Author Notes
David Milgrim has written and illustrated over twenty picture books, including Goodnight iPad ; Eddie Gets Ready for School ; My Dog, Buddy ; and Cows Can't Fly , an IRA/CBC Children's Choice Award winner. He lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, with his family.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-This title is a fresh take on the theme of accepting differences in others. Milgrim's digital drawings feature silly monsters and contrast different likes and dislikes, different personalities. On each spread, an explanatory sentence faces the creature on a stark white background. "Some monsters will eat anything" shows a blue monster with a red tongue savoring what looks like an octopus and a worm, among other delicacies. "Some are picky" features a little green monster with a pizza. Especially amusing are the speech bubbles in some of the illustrations. Though Milgrim's message is nothing new, his brightly colored, goofy characters in assorted hues and attire are appealing. The large font size will encourage reading along, and details in the illustrations will inspire children to take multiple passes through the book.-Nora Clancy, Teachers College Community School, New York City (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The monster world-not unlike another world readers may be familiar with-takes all kinds: "Some monsters are afraid. Some are not. Some monsters will eat anything. Some are picky," explains Milgrim (Goodnight iPad). And while some monsters may think it odd that not everyone wants to wear a unitard, blue sunglasses, and a Carmen Miranda-style hat, all of them are "absolutely, positively, completely, perfectly wonderful... just the way they are!" Milgrim's core sentiment is inarguably generous-minded and sweet, as are his digitally rendered cartoon vignettes, many of which are set against crisp white backgrounds so the creatures' adorably improbable features pop. A few individual scenes hit a distinctive comic note (like the garrulous monster who bores everyone to sleep by recounting a food dream), but he doesn't always push the diversity idea far in the illustrations; despite their varying fur, horns, warts, wardrobes, and personal proclivities, the monsters are basically two-eyed, bipedal creations. Still, any one of them would make a perfectly respectable plush toy. Ages 3-5. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
"Some monsters are afraid. / Some are not." Page by page, Milgrim lists contrasting quirks and habits of monsters. Drawn boldly and brightly, these monsters -- more adorable and wacky than frightening -- stand out against the clean white of the pages. The visual differences in color, shape, size, types of appendages, and facial expressions reinforce the uniqueness of each monster. However, they are all "absolutely, positively, completely, perfectly wonderful. . . / just the way they are!" The message is a familiar one, but it is reassuring and transferable enough to include even the littlest monsters in your life. jennifer lu (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Interesting how being yourself is championed, yet at the same time, most kids are keenly aware of the pressure to fit in and not be too different. In this slim title, Milgrim pairs his brief text with hilarious illustrations to celebrate a charmingly diverse group of monsters. Digital ink and pastels brighten the pages featuring creatures in a wide range of tropical hues popping against stark white backgrounds. Opposing traits are contrasted, but each is portrayed with humor and respect. "Some monsters are afraid" shows a large, pink, polka-dot monster clutching its tail and shouting "Aggggggggggh!" at the sight of a small, green worm. The following spread--"Some are not"--depicts a blue-and-purple, toddlerlike, snaggletoothed tyke smiling as it holds the worm in its hand. "Some monsters will eat anything" zooms in on a table filled with platters full of striped beetles and other squirmy, prickly foods about to be devoured by a lip-licking character. But turn the page, and both children and their parents will relate to the small monster taking a bare nibble off the tip of a pizza slice that has been plucked clean of any spice or extra topping: "Some are picky." Whether monsters (or people) are talkative or quiet, love to dance or just watch, like it outside or prefer staying inside, all "are absolutely, positively, completely, perfectly wonderful / just the way they are!" In less-skillful hands this offering would come across as saccharine, but Milgrim pulls it off with witty aplomb. Share with a pack of monsters to spark conversations about individuality. (Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
