Synopses & Reviews
Ever since Angus was a wee baby monster, living below the surface of Loch Ness, his parents tried to teach him to be a proper monster. But as Angus grows bigger, he gets sloppy. Puggy-nit shells (peanuts) are piling up; his grottie (dirty) laundry is in a heap; tatties (potatoes) litter the floor. Itand#8217;s a mountain of a mess! And as Angusand#8217;s trash heap grows, pushing him away from the comforts of home, a surprising Loch Ness sighting of his own awaits on the surface of the lake.... and#160; Fans of Hooway for Wodney Watand#160;and Tacky the Penguin will laugh-out-loud, as the hilarious team of Lester and Munsinger share a rollicking reminder of the virtues of a clean room!
Review
"This title owes its delight to the well-balanced, deadpan disparity between the spare, straightforward text and the increasingly wild scenarios depicted in the digitally colored pencil illustrations. According to the words, the animals climb a hill, weather some rain, load up at the market, regroup after hitting a rock, and return home. The pictures, however, show a different story: along the way, the red wagon transforms from pirate ship to covered wagon to circus caravan to train to rocket ship to truck in detailed scenes children will want to revisit. Preschoolers will recognize the reality-blurring borders of their own made-up worlds; children on the cusp of independent reading will enjoy following the simple, bold-type sentences; and both audiences will hope for future adventures from Lucy and her friends. —Booklist, starred review
Review
"Liwska renders the illustrations in soft-hued pencil and digital coloring, similar in style to those she created for Deborah Underwood's
The Quiet Book. Adding to the quality of this gentle yet adventurous tale is the way the illustrations provide an imaginative alternative visual narrative that enhances the straightforward text. An enjoyable story to read with creative little critters just like Lucy." —
Horn Book ReviewsReview
Praise for OLIVERS TREE:
STARRED REVIEW FROM KIRKUS:
“Warm, appealing watercolors defined with pen and ink and containing just the right amount of detail show the three friends . . . Young children will root for the three friends, enjoy the mild suspense and delight in the very satisfying ending. As gentle and unassuming as Oliver, this story thoroughly charms.”
FROM BOOKLIST:
“In her debut offering, Chase effectively captures how friendship warms the heart. . . . An excellent story for little ones at bedtime and for sharing anytime with beginning readers.”
FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:
“Chases crisp, chipper narration never attempts to manipulate readers feelings, and her restraint, combined with her subtly expressive characters and the elegant prettiness of her watercolor and ink drawings, lends the book a distinctly British lilt that inoculates it against treacliness. The “Awww” that will all but inevitably accompany the final scene—a rousing game of pirate pretend play—is thoroughly deserved.”
FROM SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:
“An adorable elephant, a sweet-faced rabbit, and a pudgy little owl play hide-and-seek in the forest. . . . The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations are muted and soft, and the text is spare and sweet. A quiet testament to friendship and creative problem solving.”
FROM SHELF AWARENESS:
“This charming tale of friendship will have children and parents eager for more from first-time author and artist Kit Chase.”
Review
"Believable, appealing characters and pitch-perfect pacing combine nicely with Lester's always-humorous text and Munsinger's hilariously detailed illustrations in this cheerful cautionary tale."
and#8212;Kirkus
"Munsinger's ink-and-watercolor illustrations add to the story's deadpan humor, and although this is a message book, the lesson is delivered with such hilarity it never feels preachy."
and#8212;Booklist
"Munsinger's watercolor illustrators are bursting with detail, energy, and wittiness, and the three animals that spot Angus and frighten him are quite funny. Youngsters will fall in love with Angus, and adult will appreciate the laugh-out-loud lessons Angus learns about the hazards of a messy bedroom."
and#8212;School Library Journal
"Lester and Munsinger are masters of conveying useful messages in a funny and non-didactic way, and Angus's tale is no exception."
and#8212;and#160;Bulletin
Synopsis
All Lucy wants to do is play with her brand-new, bright red wagon. But her mother has other plans for her-and the wagon. Lucy must go to the market and buy vegetables for dinner. Lucy doesn't want to do chores! But she sets off for the market nonetheless, hauling her red wagon with her. Before long, her ordinary trip becomes a high-seas adventure, a ride through outer space, and a day at the circus. As long as she has her red wagon, not even chores can get in the way of Lucy's fun.
New York Times bestseller Renata Liwska's most vibrant art ever takes center stage in this imaginative book for the youngest of readers.
Synopsis
All Lucy wants to do is play with her brand-new, bright red wagon. But her mother has other plans for her-and the wagon. Lucy must go to the market and buy vegetables for dinner. Lucy doesn't want to do chores! But she sets off for the market nonetheless, hauling her red wagon with her. Before long, her ordinary trip becomes a high-seas adventure, a ride through outer space, and a day at the circus. As long as she has her red wagon, not even chores can get in the way of Lucy's fun.
New York Times bestseller Renata Liwska's most vibrant art ever takes center stage in this imaginative book for the youngest of readers.
Synopsis
Meet three adorable best friends from debut author/illustrator talent with a huge Etsy following
Oliver, Charlie, and Lulu love to play outside together. Their favorite game is hide-and-seek, but its not fun for Oliver when his friends hide in the treeshe cant reach them! So the friends set off to find a tree that Oliver can play in.
But theres a reason we dont see elephants in trees, and just when Oliver is ready to give up the search, Charlie and Lulu surprise him with the perfect tree for them all to play in together!
Synopsis
Angus, the not-so-neat Loch Ness monster,and#160;learns thatand#160;tidying up is part of growing up in this hilarious picture book by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger,and#160;acclaimed creators of Tacky the Penguin and Wodney Wat. and#160;
About the Author
Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger have been together through thick and thin since first publishing The Wizard, the Fairy, and the Magic Chicken in 1983. They have collaborated on the hilarious Tacky the Penguin series and many other wildly funny and popular titles, including the award-winning Hooway for Wodney Wat. Helen Lester is a full-time writer who makes her home in New York, and Lynn Munsinger is a full-time illustrator living in Vermont.LYNN MUNSINGER has illustrated more than ninety books for children. She graduated from Tufts University in Boston and the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, where she majored in illustration. She lives in Connecticut and Vermont.