Review by Booklist Review
The Love Monster, a poky, pink hulking thing with googly eyes and arms for hugging, has a best friend whom he adores. And this year's Present Day, when everyone gives a lovely someone something lovely to show how special they are, is the perfect opportunity to show his monster friend how much he really appreciates her. Luckily, Cutesville's shops are decked out for Present Day with the latest, trendiest, shiniest things, so it should be easy for Love Monster to find the perfect gift. After a whole day of searching among fancy baubles, he comes up empty-handed and decides to make something heartfelt by hand instead. Bright's blocky illustrations, a combination of gouache and printing, capture the wide range of Love Monster's emotions, from anxiety over not finding the perfect present, to exhaustion after spending the night crafting, to bubbly joy over spending time with a special someone. Adorable puns, fuzzy monsters, and a meaningful message about what constitutes a good present make this a cheerful holiday read.--Miller, Annie Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Rainbows, hearts, stars, and general sweetness abound in this story about Love Monster and his experiences in the aptly named town of Cutesville. While everyone else is getting excited about Present Day, Love Monster is nervous. He wants to give an absolutely perfect gift to his "bestest of friends" but finds that even though the shops have lots of "wonderful, shinyful" things, he doesn't have enough money to buy any of them. Just when he thinks that he will completely disappoint his perfect person, he is inspired to give the kind of gift that money cannot buy. The bold, expressive illustrations (with lots of pink and purple hues), created through solar etching printmaking, are full of brightness and energy, completely matching the story's mood, characters, and setting. Subtle humor apparent in the artwork will appeal to readers young and old. With a timeless message of the importance of friendship and the Love Monster's lesson that something "doesn't have to cost the earth to mean the world," this is a lovely book to share around a holiday or before beginning a crafting project or to recommend to any little ones with concerns about their family's finances.-Whitney LeBlanc, Staten Island Academy, NY (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Love Monster wants to give his beloved monster friend a "wonderful, shinyful" present. He can't afford anything store-bought, so he puts together a homemade gift instead: "You see, sometimes the perfect present doesn't have to cost the earth... / ...to mean the world." The book is cloying in places, but humor--especially in printmaker Bright's vibrant etchings--provides some relief. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
What to give the one you love? This follow-up to Love Monster (2013) shows the titular, loving little beastie trying to find the perfect present for the monster he thinks "is the most perfect monster in the world." This gift-giving impulse is prompted by the coming of a very special day in Cutesville: "PRESENT DAY when everyone gives a lovely someone something lovelyto show how special they are." Unfortunately, our hero cannot find anything that will do in his price range. In the light story's bleakest moment, Love Monster sits, small and alone, on a darkened street; the text tells readers that "there was only one thing worse than a not-perfect presentand that was NO PRESENT AT ALL!" Happily, inspiration literally falls from above, and Love Monster ends up making a very special present, indeed, for his friend. Bright's vibrant prints are made from plates etched with ultraviolet light, producing brightly colored pictures with bold, black outlines. The monsters' world is a fully realized place that borders on twee but finds footing in delight. The best gifts are those that come from the heart, and this book surely comes from Bright's. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
