MARILYN'S MONSTER

Marilyn waits and waits for her monster to find her, the way all her friends’ monster companions found them, until she finally gives up and goes looking for him.

Say goodbye to scary monsters. Here lurk monster buddies (anatomical amalgams with horns, fangs, fuzz, fur and sometimes antennae) who arrive unannounced to serve as superspecial sidekicks to every child. Much fun comes from seeing a multitude of monsters in everyday settings, like school and the park, and from marveling at their confounding shapes and sizes. Mellow pencil-and-watercolor illustrations soften their freakishness, convincing even the most jittery nighttime readers that they too might pine for a monster pal just as Marilyn does. Wonderfully telling, finely wrought facial expressions communicate Marilyn’s feelings as her days without a monster wear on; she’s hopeful, wistful, wary, dismissive, angry and finally determined. “That’s it,” Marilyn declares one day. “I’m going to find my monster.” Grit, persistence, and a good, loud shout bring the two together, and as Marilyn untangles his wing from a high limb, children might ruminate on some larger lessons that hover around what initially seems a sweetly silly monster story.

A surprising spin on monsters with nicely effective artwork—and heart.