MONSTERS ON MACHINES

A beastly construction crew erects a behemoth of a building, in verse! Neubecker’s petite monsters look like refugees from Maurice Sendak, with pointed hair, ears and teeth. Despite being pint-sized, they maneuver the heavy machinery with aplomb. Hairy blue Gorbert is the foreman, flame-haired Stinky Stubb acts as the mechanic, Dirty Dugg mounts the backhoe and green Melvina (who has three eyes) attacks all the muck with the front loader. The building they construct rises ever-so-tall into the sky in a riot of color, a cross between a castle, a mosque and a haunted house. Famished from their efforts, the monsters devour a big witches’ pot of “Monsteroni and cheese.” Lund’s rhyming text feels a bit forced, but the juicy illustrations, done in India ink and then digitally colored, fairly pop off the page. Well-timed for Halloween, but with no specific mention of the holiday, it can be used—and will be enthusiastically welcomed—year-round. (Picture book. 3-7)