How to Talk Monster by Lynn Plourde

Abstract

Reviewed by: How to Talk Monster by Lynn Plourde Kate Quealy-Gainer, Assistant Editor Plourde, Lynn How to Talk Monster; illus. by Mike Lowery. Putnam, 2021 [32p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780525515807 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780525515814 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 1-2 After reading the Big Book of Monsters, our fearful protagonist sees a three-eyed orange creature peeking through his bedroom window, but when he yells for his parents, they predictably do not believe him—nor are they convinced the second or third time he calls. When the monster takes his bicycle and then crashes it, kiddo decides he’s had enough and heads outside to get his wheels back. The monster, however, is injured, and after figuring out what the creature might be saying by “Gibble! Blop! Blop!” the boy grabs a first aid kit. A bandage fixes up the monster’s cut and begins a friendship, and the kid and creature engage in some nighttime shenanigans, playing in the tree fort and hitting the kitchen for a midnight snack. The language element is particularly effective in this graphic-novel beginning reader as the monster’s gibberish offers both humor and a playful opportunity for readers to stretch developing literacy skills; the story told entirely in visuals and dialogue bubbles provides easy accessibility and plenty of scaffolding help in the illustrations. Lowery’s digital art is amusingly goofy as well as pleasingly breezy, with simple lines and figures and a palette subdued just enough to not detract from the words. Both readers who brave checking under the bed and ’fraidy cats who huddle under the covers will appreciate this tale of fanciful nocturnal fun. Copyright © 2021 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois