I Will Chomp You!

May 18, 2015
It’s by now a familiar metafictive device—the bully inside the book who threatens readers with certain doom. “If you turn any more pages... I will chomp you, buster!” growls a blue monster that Shea (the Dinosaur vs. series) gives massive jack-o-lantern jaws and menacing charcoal eyebrows. He isn’t too scary, though. For one thing, a rabbit, frog, and bird hover close to the monster’s jaws and—like readers—escape every “Chomp!” “Well, I missed,” admits the monster. “But I won’t miss again.” Halfway through, he fesses up: “You’re probably wondering why I’m so eager to chase you away. Can you keep a secret? It’s because I have all my cakes back here, at the end of the book.” Tempting descriptions and appetizing pictures à la a 1950s dessert cookbook follow: “Cakes with sprinkles. Cakes with chocolate.” There’s more desperate chomping as the monster obliterates his stash before readers can get to it. Nothing’s as fun as the dopey evildoer who can’t win, and John’s (Goodnight Already!) comedy makes this a surefire read-aloud for any crowd of cake-lovers. Ages 3–7. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

May 1, 2015
Never mind a monster at the end, there's a monster all the way through this book! Starting on Page 1, the protagonist monster uses direct address to warn readers not to turn any pages. The book's very title reveals the threat behind this warning, and Shea's toothy monster-all mouth and head and bluster-seems ready to follow through with it. Disobeying the command provokes metafictive peril as warnings to readers persist, and various small creatures depicted on the page (a bird, a frog, and a wee bunny) flee its chomping jaws. The monster misses both them and disobedient readers, growing increasingly angry. Clever illustration choices make it seem as though the monster has chomped through the pages of the book, and soon its commands devolve into pleading. Why? "It's because I have all my cakes back here, at the end of the book," the greedy monster explains. In a fiendish ploy to trick readers, the monster offers to share, saying, "just come a little closer..." and a page turn reveals (yet another) "CHOMP!" Defeated, the monster resigns itself to readers' progress toward the end of the book, and it chomps up all the cakes, leaving it with the just deserts of a bellyache. Throughout, Shea's vibrant, silly pictures diminish the scariness of the story's premise and deliver humorous characterization. A metafictive treat. (Picture book. 3-5)

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July 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 1-In this superbly paced book, a toothy blue monster tries to prevent readers from turning the page. The monster delivers his admonishments with plenty of frenzied bluster ("You've been officially WARNED!"). Disobedient readers will relish outmaneuvering the "CHOMPS" that bite through the scenes, while a bunny rabbit, frog, and bird nervously flit and flee in the background details. The monster's clever threats, wheedles, and plea bargains are all in an avaricious attempt to conceal a cornucopia of fancy cakes. As the end of the book draws near, the greedy monster gobbles up all of the desserts. His delicious comeuppance is a tummy ache. Shea's riotously bold cartoon illustrations are an explosion of energy and color. VERDICT Expect to serve up second and third helpings of this delectable read-aloud delight.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2015
Preschool-G *Starred Review* When the blue monster with the sharp teeth says, I will chomp you (which he does frequently), he is talking to you, the reader. Turn any more pages, buster, and his teeth are going to bite right down (which they do frequently). Luckily, the blue monster isn't so great at the chomping: Well, I missed. But I won't miss again. Though he starts out right in your face, the monster becomes a bit more unctuous as the book continues. Soon, he is pleading for the book to be put down. Why does he care so much? In a hysterical spread, it's revealed why the book is off-limits: it's where he keeps his cakes. Luscious, sprinkled, frosted, pineapple upside-down cake, pineapple right-side-up cake, and so much more. There's more chomping as the book continues, and readers will enjoy the way a one-joke story can turn inside itself. Shea's stylized graphic artwork is a perfect match for John's text, which gets some of its oomph from the ever-changing font. The scared rabbits and frightened frogs that are only a hop away from disaster on every page add to the silly fun. A clever chomp of a romp.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)