With exuberantly posed figures and colors that don’t always stay within his thick, scribbly lines, Stein captures a true sense of abandon in this celebration of the joys of play. A few big words caption each activity, as dragon-like Scaly Monster and yeti-ish Hairy Monster meet for Monster Hide and Seek (a challenge when trees, and even mountains, are too small to hide behind), using full-sized construction machinery as toys in a Monster Battle, comparing stinky Monster Breath and other games—most of which leave their tiny surroundings a shambles. In a scale-changing scene, the much larger monster parents show up at last, and before thundering off to bed the toothy buddies exchange the titular clinch. All in all, the most unrestrained Wild Rumpus since Max stirred up the Wild Things. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-399-24637-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2007
In a book that shows one kind of conflict resolution, Hugo, a shy frog with a small croak, learns to be more assertive with the help of a duck. Hugo lives in terror of the big frogs, especially Pop Eyes, a bully who dumps Hugo into the pond upside down, snatches his stick, and splashes him. Duck teaches Hugo to quack loudly when threatened, and the next time the bully frogs come around, Hugo opens his mouth and bellows “QUACK!” The result of this surprising emission is that birds scatter, butterflies flutter, fish flap, and the bully frogs fall into the pond. Church’s art gives the frogs, fish, snails, and worms of this story bright colors and ping-pong-ball eyes, plus the requisite goofy expressions. A funny story, with surprises that will have toddlers giggling. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: Dec. 1, 1999
ISBN: 1-86233-093-X
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
Hopping is not hard, for a frog, but when he asks other animals to join him, he finds that bats flap, lobsters snap, and dust flies when an especially large rhinoceros stomps. None of the creatures can do what the frog does so well, until he meets a rabbit, and it becomes a friendship bound by bounding. Vere’s creatures are reminiscent of Sandra Boynton’s: smiling, bright, and lively, unrestrained by this board book’s small dimensions. A hopping good time. (Board book. 1-4)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-531-30131-1
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Orchard
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1999
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