THE RAVENOUS BEAST
by Niamh Sharkey & illustrated by Niamh Sharkey
The teal-and-orange “Beast” is reassuringly comic rather than scary in this brightly illustrated tale of one-upmanship. When the Beast announces he’s so hungry he could eat a house, he sets off a whole claque of other animals who vie to be the hungriest. Large, informal black type and spot illustrations of the animals alternate with full-bleed oil paintings featuring the aforementioned munching; the pictures are vivid and sharp as well as funny—normally inedible items like boats, pails, and roller skates are munched into. The riotous spread following the toothily grinning Beast’s assertion that he’s still the most ravenous shows mouse, cat, cow, whale, dog, elephant, lion, and alligator flying in all directions. The first-person boasting, large trim size, energy of the illustrations, and imaginative premise make this a terrific read-aloud. Be sure to have plenty of snacks on hand for afterward. (Picture book. 3-6)