Perfect Picture Book Friday - Love Monster

Happy Friday Everyone!

And you know what Friday means, right?

Perfect Picture Books!!!

(And only slightly less exciting, the WEEKEND!)

(oops... did I accidentally make that look MORE exciting?)

It just so happens that this weekend is a long weekend, which is why, as you are reading this, if I survive the blog talk radio interview I'm supposed to do first - GULP! - (will there ever come a time when I can do these things without wanting to go hide in the coat closet? :)) - I will be driving to collect number 4 for a couple days of rest and relaxation (probable translation, he's out of clean clothes, so why not come home for a visit? :))

Was that a run-on sentence?

If you live anywhere between my house and the coast of Massachusetts, I'll wave to you as I drive by :)

Anyway, here is my book for the day.  I love it.  I hope you will too! :)

Title: Love Monster
Written & Illustrated By: Rachel Bright
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2012, Fiction

Suitable For Ages: ages 2-5

Themes/Topics: being different, being yourself, acceptance, love

Opening:  "This is a monster.  (Hello, Monster.)  I think you'll agree, he's a little bit funny-looking.  To say the least.  He lives in a world of cute, fluffy things.  Which makes being funny-looking pretty, darn hard."

Brief Synopsis: Monster has a hard time being a bit funny-looking in a world of cuteness, so he goes out looking for someone who will love him just the way he is.

Links To Resources: Shape Monsters Craft, Monster Bags (for Halloween treats or regular old lunch :)),  Make A Messy Monster (if you wanted it to match this book you could make it red instead of the green that is pictured), Hand Print Monsters. This story would pair well with Mostly Monsterly by Tammi Sauer (another book about a monster whose insides don't match the outsides)

Why I Like This Book: This book is so cute!  Monster is rather funny-looking in his own "slightly hairy", "googly-eyed" way, but underneath the hair he is sweet and sensitive and only wants to be loved for who he is.  That is something we can all relate to :)  He searches high... and low... and middle-ish :)... looking for someone who will love him.  Things get pretty dark.  Literally :)  And just when he's given up... well, I'm not going to TELL you - that would ruin the ending :)  The pictures are endearing, and there is a lot of humor to be found in the details.  For writers, this is an example of a story that is beautifully done in about 235 words.  Little kids will love the delightful pictures and spare text, and slightly older ones will appreciate the humor.

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

Now, I hope you all enjoy reading each other books!  I have a date with Princess Blue Kitty (my car, for those of you who haven't met her :))  PPBF bloggers, please leave your post-specific links on the list below so we can all come visit!

Have a great (long) weekend, everyone!