Review by Booklist Review
There's plenty to be cranky about out there in the world, even or maybe especially if you're a kid. As envisioned by Berger (Martha Doesn't Share!, 2010) and Santat (Sidekicks, 2011), such events are enough to produce a literal monster. Faced with the slings and arrows of early wake-up calls, miserly Halloween candy givers, melting Popsicles, long lines, cough syrup, and bedtime, the fearsome Crankenstein can only respond with a baleful look and a groaning MEHHRRRR! The only possible cure for such terror? Laughter, naturally, which comes along with play and friendship and puts a total, if temporary, kibosh on the crankiness. The premise plants an amusing seed, which Santat's art brings to full, glowing life, in giant two-page spreads alternately blazing with or darkened by appropriate digital hues. The size of the faces matches the size of the emotions, and Santat's gift with exaggerated expressions ensures that this monster, in the tradition of all the greats, inspires sympathy as well as fear.--Karp, Jesse Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Berger's (Martha Doesn't Share) sardonic riff on bad moods involves an unnamed narrator (Crankenstein's parent, clearly) describing scenarios that turn an average boy into a drooling green monster. Berger's writing is sharp and funny to begin with, and Santat's (The Three Ninja Pigs) polished, klieg-lit spreads bring the energy over the top. "Have you seen Crankenstein?" the narrator starts innocently, as someone under the covers ignores the morning sun. "Oh, you would totally know if you had," the narrator continues, as the quilt gets yanked away and the boy desperately shields himself against the light. "You would say, 'Good morning!! How are you?' Crankenstein would say, 'Mehhrrrr!' " School mornings drive Crankenstein to his knees; icy Halloweens leave him shivering in his robot costume; melting popsicles and long lines drive him wild. Santat's faux-airbrush style excels in capturing the beating rays of the sun and the eerie blue of the television screen. Not until Crankenstein meets a kindred spirit does his mood improve. Expect many re-read requests from Crankensteins who may (or may not) recognize themselves. Ages 3-6. Author's agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. Illustrator's agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-The bedroom looks like it belongs to an average boy: scattered checkers, model trucks, and a baseball on the floor; tiny action figures near the alarm clock on the night table; and a monster-face lamp grinning its terrible grin. well, okay, maybe the lamp is a tip-off. When the blanketed figure on the bed is roused by a hearty, "Good morning!!" his startled face is green and goggle-eyed, and his only comment is, "MEHHRRRR!" Crankenstein's eyes bulge dangerously yellow over a stack of pancakes when the syrup bottle is empty. His green and awful face is reflected in a pool of water on a rainy day, and it leers disgustedly when approached by a dripping, garish red spoonful of Dr. Giggles cough syrup. It seems as though everything turns a boy into a Crankenstein. Will the creature ever turn from "MEHHRRRR!" to merry? Youngsters will roar along with Crankenstein through this silly and sympathetic story of grumpy-grouchies. Santat's striking digital illustrations, generous in size, have hilarious details that will inspire repeated readings.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY (c) Copyright 2013. 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
Sometimes -- when you have to go to school, when you have to take cough syrup -- all there is to say is "MEHHRRRR!" The life of the little guy depicted here seems to be one unfortunate event after another, and he responds accordingly, if repetitively. This is a No, David! for slightly older kids, with intense but comical close-ups of a toddler's enraged face, turned Frankenstein-green for that festive Halloween touch. The ending is a sop to parents, as the boy meets a friend and his rage (and green skin) turns peaceable -- but never fear, the monster still lurks within, bwah-ha-HAH. roger sutton (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Whoa. Be prepared for the intense frustrations, the moody outbursts and the green scowls of Crankenstein. Berger, who must be writing from direct experience with such a fellow, wryly informs readers what to expect. When offered a huge stack of pancakes with only the last small drop of syrup, Crankenstein's reply is an angry "MEHHRRRR!!" A similar response comes when it is "time for school" or "when it's WAY too hot for Popsicles" or "whenit's bedtime." Santat brilliantly utilizes Adobe Photoshop to zoom in on every extreme facial expression and clenched fist that conveys the barely contained anger and leads to the eventual unleashing of Crankenstein's fury. Each setting reveals sly comic elements that both kids and their grown-ups will appreciate. Readers will laugh out loud at the monster's seemingly over-the-top reactions and relate to the many tantrum-provoking situations. Being forced to swallow gross cough syrup? Waiting forever in line for anything? In the end, only a fellow Crankenstein can jolt him back to normalcy. Perhaps such extreme behavior is truly funny when spotted in another. Get ready to read this aloud a lot. (Picture book. 3-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
