Review: The Further Adventures of Billy and Monster
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 27, 2013
David Chuka delights us with yet another volume in his terrific series of Billy and Monster.  And this one lives up to the others with a surety of consistency that means ALL of these books should be added to the library of children (and adults blessed with the innocence and open sense of humor of a child's mind!).In this volume we learn that Billy and Monster love the holidays - each for different reasons including the fact that they don't have to go to school! They love Thanksgiving (for family and food), Independence Day for fireworks, Christmas for presents (and a nice nod to the meaning of Christmas). But their favorite is Easter - because of that best of all foods, CHOCOLATE!A trip to Grandma Chocalicious increase their anticipation for Easter Sunday because that is when Billy and Monster can eat her chocolate Easter eggs - but not before!  But of course, temptation is there and at night the two sneak into the room where the chocolate Easter eggs are stacked carefully into a pyramid - and they both eat one, then more and more until the pyramid falls and the two are so full and tired they go to bed. Morning comes and the confession to Dad results in a discourse on moderation and betraying trust.  Grandma forgives, of course, and on their way back upstairs both Billy and Monster release one of their signature (for this series) `ginormous farts'. When guests arrive, Billy and Monster are offered chocolate donuts and having learned their lesson they politely accept only one - good manners have set in.Chuka illustrates this delightful little funny, but with lessons, story with super drawings of things holiday and of course fine images of the characters involved. This is a fun holiday book with Chuka's brand of humor and his usual inclusion of subtle lessons for children to remember. Here's hoping he keeps these coming.  Grady Harp, March 13