Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Sherry's (I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean) giant squid with the outsize ego is back, this time asserting his peerless artistic talents. Having shown his skill at drawing both abstractly and from life, the squid declares, "I'm making my masterpiece!" The book itself, however, packs less of a punch. Although the character's manic eyes, cavernous smile and irrepressible self-esteem still exude plenty of charisma (especially after he paints himself a mustache midway through), there's no compelling narrative arc or antagonist this time out; each spread is just another chance for the squid to show something else he can draw or another style he can adopt. When a double-gatefold reveals that the "canvas" for the squid's masterpiece--or, as he calls it, his "mess-terpiece"--is the whale from Biggest Thing, it's a nice joke, but probably not a big enough one to bring down the house. Ages 3-5. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--The blue giant squid introduced in I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean (Dial, 2007) returns to challenge the art world. Drawing readers underwater for simple demonstrations of artistic skill, the creature happily splashes his ink across page after page of a watercolor-washed sea world. "I can draw ANYTHING!" he shouts to all listening ears. Changing expression with the smallest alterations in his bulbous eyes, the enormous squid has a childlike enthusiasm that encourages youngsters to follow him as he exhibits his artistic flair. He's unstoppable by fish or shark, and turns a whale into a canvas for a four-page foldout of Picasso-inspired art. There's no deep plot here. A mildly threatening shark from cut paper and angry and ink-bedaubed clownfish provide all the drama, all in a lush background of purples and blues. A pleasing additional purchase.--Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Using his tentacles to hold the brushes, the blowhard squid from I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean draws underwater animals (and, mistakenly, draws on them: a gatefold reveals a whale covered in the squid's "mess-terpiece"). The simple, amusing story's use of very few words and bold, bright, mixed-media illustrations will grab readers' attention and keep them laughing. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Exuberance undiminished (and miraculously out of the whale that ate him in his last adventure), the squid who proclaimed I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean! (2007) returns with equally high-volume claims to artistic preeminence: "I can DRAW!!" Brushing depictions of sea life modeled in simple lines or complex, in styles ranging from naturalistic to cubist, the bright blue, multiple-brush-wielding mollusk daubs paint liberally, splashing two very cross-looking clownfish and giving himself a nattily artsy ink moustache. He pauses but a moment when a page-filling, snaggle-toothed shark bellows "STOP! / You are making a mess!" "You mean... / a MESS-terpiece!" Capped by a double gatefold on which a whale of epic size models a Picasso-esque nautical mural drawn (claims Sherry) in fresh squid ink, this new outing should, like its predecessor, excite enthusiastic responses from young audiences--though the formula may not last much longer. (Picture book. 5-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
