Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Monster is "so excited" to get invited to a birthday party that he even picks out spiffy underwear and combs his tuft of blue fur. Then it's time for some serious fun, what with the dancing, games, pizza with insect toppings ("Monster munch./ Monster crunch./ Monster eats a buggy lunch"), and food fight, this one featuring pink cupcakes. Bach's (Night-Night, Forest Friends) minimalist rhyming, built around Cookie Monster-style diction, is too literal and monotonous to add much to the story ("Monster unwrap./ Monster clap./ Monster likes his friend's new cap"). However, the combination of Bach's visual pacing, a cast that's more Uglydolls-cute than creepy, and an offbeat palette (the deep teal, lemon yellow, dark rose, and lime green aren't the usual monster story choices) captures the low-level tribal frenzy that animates many a kid's birthday celebration. Bach knows what kids know: the harder you party, the more legit the birthday. No wonder Monster "huffs & stomps about" when Dad comes by to pick him up. Ages 2-5. Agent: Teresa Kietlinski, Prospect Agency. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-Blue monster is caught up in the delight of a friend's party. Through a rhyming text, readers follow preparation, disco dancing, a pin-the-tail game, pinata, bug-topped pizza, a pink-cupcake-tower food fight, and presents. A tantrum ensues when it's time to depart, but luckily for Dad, there's another party invitation in the mailbox. As in Bach's Night-Night, Forest Friends (Penguin, 2013), dark backgrounds emphasize the cheery cartoon creatures' ice cream colors. Their square bodies gain humorous variety with unique features like beaks, wings, or horns. These little monsters demonstrate a typical preschool celebration.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA (c) Copyright 2012. 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
Monster invited. / Monster delighted. / Monster squeals, / SO EXCITED!" Readers follow a blue monster as he experiences all that a typical kids' birthday party holds, right down to his after-party meltdown ("Monster SHOUT!"). The illustrations of the stuffed-animal-like partiers feature cuteness, grossness (pizza with bug topping), and, almost obligatorily, underwear; only a greedy reader would ask for more. (c) Copyright 2014. 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
Monsters attending parties are a popular picture-book topic; this circular tale adds one more to the shelf. A friendly young monster receives a party invitation: "Monster invited. / Monster delighted. / Monster squeals, SO EXCITED!' " The pastel-blue monster's antics should elicit a few giggles, as when he primps in front of the bathroom mirror in his underwear or when he gets ready to chomp on a bug-covered pizza. Games are played, food is eaten, a food fight is begun, gifts are openedand a temper tantrum erupts when it is time to say goodbye. The monster's dad is a master distracter and redirects his son's attention to checking the mail. Surprise (or not): Another invitation has arrived, and the creature's frown disappears: "Monster glee. / Monster yippee! / Monster marks RSVP." Unfortunately, the rhyming text fails to encourage participation and lacks the unfailing rhythm that would make it a good read-aloud choice. Bach's monsters are more cuddly than scary, which may add some appeal for younger readers. Pass on this party unless tame titles for the preschool set are needed. (Picture book. 3-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
