The Meanest of Meanies

April 1, 2021
A monster enumerates all the ways her mother is mean. While this blue-skinned child is completely serious in her criticisms of her green-skinned mother, hopefully readers will see similarities to their own moms: Mom wakes the narrator with tickles and coffee breath, waves goodbye at school dropoff, bribes her for conversation, and makes her read books at bedtime (four, not the desired 82). Weirdly, a school-picture-day thread is dropped abruptly in favor of a spelling bee (where Mom cheers). The creators of the podcast #IMOMSOHARD may have their tongues firmly in cheeks, but their child protagonist comes off as an entitled monster. Some adults may find the situations familiar, but few will want this parent-child duo as role models: The child is sassy ("Look, lady, my hands are all busy!"), and the mom is sometimes a doormat (making three breakfasts). Some of the rhymes are rough, and the meter sometimes stumbles. Briggs' digital illustrations play up the humor in the text while smoothing the rougher edges a bit with a monster cast. Few characters have lifelike skin tones, and all have features that set them apart--varying numbers of appendages or eyes; horns, spines. The girl and her mother share blue hair, horns, and spotted skin; each has two legs and eyes, and the girl has two arms to her mother's four. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 15% of actual size.) If "being mean...means... // I LOVE YOU!!!" then this kid sure must love her mother. Wouldn't lots of moms prefer a hug? (Picture book. 4-8)

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April 12, 2021
A purple bipedal monster with aquamarine hair chafes at their mother’s love in this picture book debut by bestselling comedienne duo Hensley and Smedley (#IMomSoHard, for adults). In sometimes arhythmic, slightly cheesy rhymes (“She kisses my forehead/ and puts her cheek next to mine./ As I roll into Sleepytown,/ my heart-lights start to shine”), the authors describe how the first-person narrator’s mother, a monster with matching hair, is “the meaniest of mean.” Mom delivers coffee-breath smooches (“So rude!”), adds “cringey” love notes to the protagonist’s balanced lunches, and enforces bedtime routines. Vibrant digital illustrations by Briggs have a friendly animation-style appeal. The central message doesn’t quite land (“Because being mean... means... I LOVE YOU”), and some jokes seem geared more toward adults than child readers, but parents and children alike will find recognizable situations and attitudes in this gently humorous read. Ages 4–8.