Customer Reviews

The Lonely Little Monster (From The WorryWoo Monster Series)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Nola is, as the title suggests, a lonely little monster who is desperately in need of a friend or, we are to imagine, a mere passer-by. She is flat-out miserable because of her loneliness for the first portion of the book and eventually cries an ocean of tears at her misfortune. The reader feels Nola's pain and empathizes with her simple wish of companionship. It's the pouty way in which Nola explains her emotions that we understand just how young of a monster she is. Kids will respond to her plea and the manner in which she longs for a playmate. It's in her bountiful tears, half way through the book, that she finally gains the company she desires.


Therein lies a subtle message for kids and adults alike - never be afraid to be honest about your feelings even if it means being moved to tears for it's inside that display of raw emotion that we can overcome our fears and longings. That happens to be exactly what Nola learns when through her damp eyes she spots tiny critters in the wake of the sea. Turns out those who we long to be near often feel the same way about us and are sometimes right under our noses.

The story is sweet and simple yet at the same time carries with it a subtle heaviness, after all this is a powerful emotion being examined here. It's the illustrations, however, that set The Lonely Little Monster apart from virtually every other children's book on the market. Andi Green's watercolors are without a doubt some of the prettiest artwork to accompany literature that this writer has ever seen. It is a true work of art from start to finish.

At first, I did have this complaint about the book : there is an overall lack of text from page to page. But it turns out this isn't a complaint at all. The book's layout is used to encourage, rather than deter, folks to spend more time on each page AFTER the initial read. So, we typically flip through the book twice at each sitting - once to read/hear the story and again to admire the artwork and the story that the pictures tell.

Any book lover should rush to pick up The Lonely Little Monster for themselves and their small children. I would put the ideal age for this book at 4-8 but as with many kids books, the real age range is much wider.

Poor Nola can't seem to find any friends. She looks high and low, but alas-there is nobody there. Sighhhh. Anyone who has ever felt friendless and alone can relate to this adorable little monster. This book is great for children and adults alike--it's universal message of feeling lonely and seeking friends will appeal to all ages. As a second grade teacher, I'm really glad I stumbled on these Worry Woo books. They offer a great way to open a discussion with children about their feelings.