Somebody Needs to Do Something about That Monster!
by Doug Cenko (Author)
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?
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Kirkus
After reading about this cool monster, kids will know just what needs to be done about him—be his friend.
Publishers Weekly
A neighborly monster unwittingly teaches a village about community in this simple story based on "The Little Dutch Boy." In the aftermath of a large flood, fuzzy blue Merv, a gentle giant of a creature with nubby horns, "sat outside the village snacking on plants. It's just what he did." From this post, Merv overhears nearby villagers, portrayed with various skin tones, complain about a monster, and--not realizing he's the issue--sets out in search to do something about it. He consults with a trio of purple witches, a pale-skinned bridge troll, and three sparkle-obsessed unicorns, but though each offers their unique services ("It's just what we do"), none suit his needs. And as he returns to the village, he and others come to understand the wide-ranging import of Merv's own contributions. Cenko's desaturated digital illustrations lean into greens and browns, making Merv the bright blue center of attention in this winning retelling. Ages 4-8. (Feb.)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Review quotes
"[A] winning retelling."—Publishers Weekly
"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
JUV039220 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Values & Virtues
JUV052000 - Juvenile Fiction | Monsters
Picture books
Monsters
Helpfulness
Humor
