Maia and the Monster Baby

June 18, 2012
Maia, a bespectacled brunette girl, and her furry, purple friend, Monster, who visits at night, are both about to become big sisters, and neither one of them is happy about it. “I like things just the way they are,” says Maia. “Me, too,” says Monster. But when the two friends get together with their new infant sisters, they discover that they are actually quite skilled at turning howling babies into delighted ones: Maia rocks, tickles, and reads to Monster’s baby sister, while Monster does somersaults and makes goofy faces for Maia’s. Winthrop (The Biggest Parade) and Haley (Reading to Peanut) serve up two winning female characters and a message about friendship and girl power that feels both of-the-moment and deeply empathic. The quietly comedic, matter-of-fact prose is sympathetic to both characters’ considerable intelligence (“My mother says my baby sister is my new best friend,” complains Maia. “We are the friends,” Monster replies. “They are the babies”), while giving readers room to
savor Haley’s expansive, cheerily colored scenes that exude a sense of nighttime magic. Ages 4–8.

July 15, 2012
Maia and her lovable monster delight each night in spirited play until they lose their status as their parents' only offspring. Monster's bluntly phrased observation, "Your mother has a potbelly," triggers a distressing realization: Maia's mother is pregnant. So, it seems, is Monster's. Both struggle to adjust to the inevitable sacrifices (from Monster's babysitting to Maia's dismay at having to share a room). Maia's homemade sign, scrawled in red crayon, reads, "Monster Baby, STOP Screaming!" Maia demonstrates tried-and-true techniques (tickling fuzzy feet and rocking the cradle) to soothe Monster's little sibling; Monster's humorous cross-eyed expressions keep the human sister gurgling. Parental optimism expresses more idealism than reality: Maia grumbles, "My mother says my baby sister is my new best friend," and Monster responds knowingly, "WE are the friends. They are the babies." Saturated in purple-hued haziness, acrylic paints and shadowy colored-pencil scenes locate the action in the cozy confines of Maia's room. Monster's childlike wardrobe and exuberant demeanor accommodate fur and fangs without any hint of fright. No monstrous creativity here, but fanciful fun as friends adapt to their new family roles. (Picture book. 3-6)

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October 1, 2012

PreS-K-Bespectacled Maia and her best friend, a furry purple monster who visits at night, have the same problem-cranky newborn sisters. Fortunately, Maia amuses Monster's baby and vice versa, so the quartet end up with smiles. Haley's acrylic and colored pencil cartoon-style illustrations are full of expression and detail and boost the tale. Maia's side of the bedroom has a dragon poster and Halloween mobile; her sister's has mermaids and fairies. The older monster is girlie and the monster baby wears four pink bows. Girls with new siblings will especially appreciate this friendship story.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.