Somebody Needs to Do Something About That Monster!

by Doug Cenko

Overview

A silly and ironic twist on “The Little Dutch Boy,” featuring a charmingly unaware monster who just wants to be kind and make a difference

Merv is a nice monster. He sits outside the village, snacking on plants and blissfully minding his own business. Until…the villagers start complaining about “that monster.”

Merv assumes they must be talking about somebody else and decides to go take care of that nuisance himself! He asks for help from the witches, the troll under the bridge, and even the unicorns. But their assistance comes with strings attached, and poor Merv isn’t ready to meet their demands.

Will Merv return to the village a failure, or might he have been helping everyone all along?

Nominated for the Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682636107
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	02/20/2024
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.25(w) x 10.31(h) x 0.35(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Somebody needs to do something about Doug Cenko. Ever since he can remember, Doug has been creating children's books. Books like LITTLE MONSTER TRUCKS GO and VIKING IN LOVE. He doesn't work all of the time, though. He also spends time with his family in Chicago. But right now, Doug has to get back to making more books. It's just what he does.

Editorial Reviews

"[A] bright and boisterous picture book."—Shelf Awareness

"[A] winning retelling."—Publishers Weekly

"This story invites an enjoyable read-aloud experience. . ."—School Library Journal

"After reading about this cool monster, kids will know just what needs to be done about him—be his friend."—Kirkus Reviews

"This delightful and monstrous take on ‘The Little Dutch Boy’ is sure to please kiddos who love a comical quest."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher

2023-11-04
A monster goes monster hunting.

Merv, a big blue creature with horns, sits by a stream eating trees. (It’s just what he does.) He overhears the nearby villagers’ complaints that something needs to be done about that monster and, blissfully unaware that he is the beast in question, sets off to find help. A trio of purple-skinned witches tell him they can turn the monster into a frog (“it’s just what we do”). A troll offers to eat the monster (“it’s just what I do”), and several unicorns propose decorating the monster (“it’s just what we do”), but none of their suggestions feel right. So Merv returns home. The dam’s leaking; the village is almost completely flooded. Without thinking, Merv sits in his usual spot and plugs up the dam. Days later, the water has receded, and the wet witches, troll, and unicorns show up seeking refuge. Merv, who just wants to help friends—because that’s what he does—convinces the villagers that monsters do make good neighbors. This sweet story offers sound messages about friendship, community, and appreciating what we have. Merv is kind and endearing, the supernatural figures richly comical. The digital illustrations are appealing, though readers may not pick up on the fact that Merv’s been responsible all along for preventing the stream from flooding. The villagers are racially diverse.

After reading about this cool monster, kids will know just what needs to be done about him—be his friend. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews