Review by Booklist Review
Oskar (a boy) and Theodore (a bear) have an awesome Saturday routine. First their dad drives them to the bakery for donuts, and then they all go to . . . the library! While Dad heads upstairs to the boring adult section, Oskar and Theodore floof onto beanbag chairs and start reading from an enticing pile of books. They've barely turned a page, however, when they're interrupted by a big-footed, many-headed, book-eating monster. Boy and bear do their best to escape, hide, and bluff their way to safety, but to no avail. Even diplomacy and a donut bribe backfire, and just as it looks like Oskar and Theodore might end up as the monster's lunch (Grab the sprinkles, Winston!), the librarian comes to the rescue. OHora's signature retro-style illustrations, as seen in his My Cousin Momo (2015) and Ame Dyckman's Wolfie the Bunny (2015), boast bold colors and hilarious details that match his zany story. Concluding with a satisfying lesson and a car full of books, this over-the-top library fantasy should fit the storytime bill nicely.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
OHora (My Cousin Momo) brings his playful wit and retro-kitchen-appliance palette to the story of Theodore and Oskar, whose weekly library visit takes a green and scaly turn. They're brothers: Oskar's human, and Theodore is a bear in plaid pants and a baseball cap. On library day, they stop by the doughnut store ("Dad always said that a day of quiet exploration required a proper breakfast"), grab some books, and settle in to read. Suddenly, a giant green foot smashes the beanbag Oskar was sitting on, and the two find themselves facing a hungry five-headed monster that thinks the library is a restaurant. After Theodore and Oskar endure some snarky threats from the monster heads-Chuck, Seymour, Winston, Pat, and Bob-the librarian, Ms. Watson, saves the day: "Story time, everyone! Please sit crisscross applesauce!" OHora brings action and danger to what might have been another book extolling books ("Books sound so much better than they taste!" enthuses Bob), not to mention some great made-up book titles like Ole Bluer and Miniature Squirrel Paintings of the 14th Century. Ages 3-5. Agent: Sean McCarthy, Sean McCarthy Literary. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Oskar, a boy, and Theodore, a bear, are companionable reading buddies. They love waking up early Saturday mornings to visit the library-after a "proper breakfast" of delectable doughnuts. They are just settling into a typically quiet library day when the "Boom! Crash! Growl!" of a loud, angry, and disruptive monster disturbs their solitude. It appears that the five-headed creature hates books, even ones covered in whipped cream, mustard, hot sauce, or sprinkles. When Oskar tactfully explains that books are for reading rather than eating, Theodore saves them from being the monster's next snack by feeding it doughnuts instead.which is predictably followed by an equally enjoyable storytime session. OHora's bold, colorful, quirky cartoon illustrations are eye-catching, and the multiheaded green monster far outshines both boy and bear as frightfully delightful favorite characters. The part where the green ghouls dip their books into assorted condiments and dessert toppings will surely elicit more than a few laughs. Along with these silly moments, children should appreciate the final message: "Luckily, monsters like story time as much as they like donuts." VERDICT A delectable read-aloud well worth sharing, especially for a beginning library storytime session.-Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY © Copyright 2016. 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
Every Saturday Dad takes Oskar and his bear Theodore to the library after a hearty breakfast at the doughnut shop. Dad heads upstairs (to the "nap department") while Oskar and Theodore visit the children's room. On this Saturday, their regular quiet reading is interrupted by loud crashing and booming. An enormous green foot smashing down through the entire left-hand page perfectly counterpoints the understated text: "It appeared there was a monster in the library." Oskar and Theodore try running away, hiding, bluffing, and even diplomacy, but they only make the hungry monster angrier. The acrylic paintings in rich colors show a creature with huge feet and many small heads, each with its own distinct personality and name -- Bob, Seymour, Winston, Pat, and Chuck. Just as the monster, who hates books because they aren't very tasty, decides that Theodore (who has doughnuts under his hat) and Oskar would make a better snack, Ms. Watson the librarian steps in with an announcement: "STORY TIME, EVERYONE! Please sit crisscross applesauce." Story time solves everything, of course, and afterwards the monster offers to clean up the wrecked library. The narrative's deadpan humor paired with entertaining speech-bubble dialogue work together with clever page layouts and detailed art to maximize the book's silliness. julie roach (c) Copyright 2016. 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
Saturday is library day, and Dad is bungee-cording a warehouse worth of books to the roof of his already jam-packed car. The first stop, however, is the bakery, as "a day of quiet exploration requires a proper breakfast."A dark-haired, pink-skinned boy named Theodore and his "brother," Oskar the bear, head to the library's children's room while Dad escorts himself upstairs to the "nap department." All is as it should be until a five-headed monster named Seymour, Chuck, Winston, Pat, and Bob arrives, armed with mustard, whipped cream, sprinkles, and hot sauce. It chows down on fiction and nonfiction alike, but despite the condiments, the books still taste yucky to this five-headed picky eater. When the monster slavers in the direction of the kids, Oskar saves the day (and Theodore) with a secret cache of doughnuts he's stashed under his hat. Tamed by the doughnuts and capable, dark-skinned, storytelling librarian Ms. Watson, this scaly vortex of chaos apologizes for its bad behavior with a hilarious allusion to low blood sugar. The monster acknowledges that books sound better than they taste and repurposes its raison d'tre to library maintenancepink rubber gloves and all. This droll, tongue-in-cheek romp is a snortfest, from cranky librarian Mr. Tasker to blinged-out head Winston. OHora's signature flat acrylic illustrations strike gold once again.Lively, detailed, endearing, and bold, the images and text create an unforgettable reading experience for book digesters everywhere. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
