Floyd Peterson is sick and tired of being called a monster. “Just because I have horns. And wild eyes. And clompy feet. And long toenails. And crazy hair. And fangs. And a huge, toothy smile that glows in the dark.” That doesn’t mean that he’s a monster. Children really hurt his feelings when they scream and run when he is grocery shopping or simply trying to sleep under a bed. He thinks it’s time everyone learned some manners and called him by his real name, Floyd Peterson. Luckily, by the end of the text, Floyd has finally made himself heard while hiding in a closet. Shea’s signature illustrations with bold lines and vivid colors are a perfect match for the minimal text on each page. Pairing this book with Ed Emberley’s Go Away, Big Green Monster or Jon Stone’s The Monster at the End of This Book will make a fun, interactive monster-themed storytime even more enjoyable. VERDICT A perfect choice for a rollicking read-aloud, library collections, and picture book fans everywhere.— School Library Journal, July 2016 (starred review)
"It’s not like I ever call you names, do I? I could easily be like, ‘Look at that little meat snack over there.’” A pear-shaped, purple-fur-covered, er, creature speaks directly to listeners. “I’m no monster! Just because I have horns. And wild eyes.
And fangs…” He might howl, roar, and growl; he could be hiding under the bed or in the closet—but people shouldn’t be afraid of him. “It really hurts my feelings.”
This not-a-monster’s appearance and behavior belie his message; the cognitive dissonance between text and pictures is what makes the book funny. Shea’s kinetic illustrations take full advantage of the silly premise and offer Floyd—that’s the narrator’s name, by the way: Floyd Peterson—loads of character. Jittery lines and bold background colors make the pages pop with nervous energy as Floyd delivers his impassioned defense. He closes with an undeniable point that inadvertently takes the bite out of his argument: “Yep. I’m a monster with excellent manners! Um…I didn’t mean…I’m not a…um…” Oops. Pair this with John’s and Shea’s previous collaboration, I Will Chomp You! (rev. 7/15), to keep those little meat snacks on their toes. — The Horn Book Magazine (6/3/16)
The creators of I Will Chomp You (2015) are back at it with a tale of another opinionated monster. Only this one would rather not be called a monster. It hurts his feelings. Sure, he has horns and wild eyes, and sure, he howls at the moon, hides under the bed, and growls in his sleep, but come on. He’s simply not a monster (in fact, his name is Floyd Peterson). How about this: if you don’t call him a monster, then he won’t call you “that little meat snack over there.” Floyd, front and center on almost every page, is a fuzzy purple monster—sorry, creature—whose yellow eyes and wide, fanged mouth give him expressions that range from comical to, occasionally, downright scary. In Shea’s signature style, Floyd is often the most detailed thing on the page, standing out against line-sketched, monochromatic backgrounds. The highly energetic text pairs well with the frenetic illustrations, and the read-aloud potential is through the roof. Just keep the name-calling to a minimum, OK? — Kirkus Reviews (5/31/16)
2016-05-04
A grand return to a world of endearing monsters from the duo behind I Will Chomp You! (2015). Readers meet an immaculately dressed, wildly hairy monster who has more than its share of woes. "Quit calling me a monster! Just…stop it, right this minute!" John once again employs direct address to let the monster air its grievances. At first, the scraggly protagonist attempts to prove to readers that it's not so monstrous. Sure, it does have all the trademarks of a monster, with its "huge, toothy smile that glows in the dark" and "crazy hair" and "wild eyes." However, looks can deceive. As the monster gradually rallies against stereotypes and directs its ire toward readers, the book plumbs even greater depths of humor. "It's not like I ever call you names, do I?" Shea's colorful, expressive illustrations enhance the theatrical antics of the monster through the twitch of a grin or eye, making the monster seem as approachable as it is cranky. Still, the good old monster can't seem to shake the label. After admitting that, OK, it is a monster, it instead opts for a different approach, introducing itself to readers. "My name is Floyd. Floyd Peterson." After all, Floyd Peterson sounds like someone no one would mind meeting. Fiendish monsters—and everyone else—rejoice! (Picture book. 3-7)
