Hello World!

June 22, 2015
In this sequel to Mrs. Mo’s Monster (2014), the fuzzy blue monster from that book—one part toddler, one part gremlin—sets out to see the world since his elderly caretakers are too busy to do anything fun. With a backpack overstuffed with sporting equipment, toys, cookware, and more, the monster tromps off into the mountains before getting lost. Luckily, Mrs. Mo isn’t far behind, helping him out (not to mention retrieving everything he has dropped along the way). The story concludes abruptly, but a glorious scene in which the two gaze out over a patchwork landscape that glows under the light of the setting sun is worth the price of admission. Ages 3–up.

July 15, 2015
Mrs. Mo's Monster (2014), he of the snaggly teeth, spiky blue fur, and lolling pink tongue, is still in the attic. As the book begins, Mr. and Mrs. Mo are painting the outside of their house from white to red and so cannot amuse the monster, who announces that he's "off to see the world." He sets out carrying a good deal of the stuff from the attic, refusing Mrs. Mo's offer to make him a sandwich. As he goes along, however, he gets lost in a sea of obstacles to navigate and begins to have a meltdown-but Mrs. Mo turns up, with the sandwich and a few more things from home. It all resolves in a satisfying way: the monster gets to see a view of his whole world (and so does the intrepid Mrs. Mo), and Mr. Mo, painting complete, just sort of scratches his bald head in bemusement. The monster definitely has the toddler ethos down pat, and the white-haired Mo couple is quite good at responding to it. The art is done in clear blocks of color and shape, and children of all ages will be amused by what the monster chooses to take along and leave behind of the cozy detritus (tea kettle, golf clubs, globe, etc.) in the attic. A calmly surreal invitation to explore. (Picture book. 4-7)

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August 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 2-In this sequel to Mrs. Mo's Monster (Gecko Pr, 2014), Monster is impatient as Mr. and Mrs. Mo are preoccupied with painting their house. Monster peers out of the upstairs window longing for play and attention and then gathers up a variety of cast-off sporting and household goods from the attic and goes "off to see the world." Mrs. Mo follows at a distance as the monster crosses the yard, walks over a bridge, and goes through a rocky landscape to the tallest peak around. Luckily she brings sandwiches to share. The bold illustrations with saturated colors offer unique images: the house looks like a steel barn, the elderly Mr. and Mrs. Mo have gray hair but are spry and active, and the rock vistas resemble parts of the Rocky Mountains. While this is not quite as satisfying as Maurice Sendak's classic Where the Wild Things Are, young readers will enjoy sharing Monster's journey, the reassurance of Mrs. Mo, and the view of the world beyond one's backyard. VERDICT This is a welcome addition to larger picture book collections.-Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI

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