Monster Hug!
PreSchool-Grade 2—For two gigantic monster pals, playtime is calamitous in scale. When they "wake up," one bursts out of a volcano, while the other shoots up from beneath the ocean. When they "feast," they toss airplanes, ships, and mountains into their enormous mouths. When they "party" with other friends, their exuberance bounces buildings and vehicles high into the sky. However, when monster parents interrupt the fun, the protagonists turn into two cuddling youngsters who end their playtime with an affable "monster hug." Stein's rambunctious watercolors are as joyously messy as the characters they bring to life. His primary-color palette stands out boldly against the white backgrounds. Each page demonstrates a different activity, accompanied by simple descriptive statements. This eye-catching offering will elicit giggles from storytime audiences and makes an excellent addition to picture-book shelves.—Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.