Reviews for A busy creature's day eating

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

With Willems' name on it, this abecedary is bound to be zanyand it is. This over-the-top "smorgasbord" is a tale of a raucous creature that chomps and chews everything in sight, from A to Z. But waitthis is not one of Willems' simple Elephant and Piggie early readers, nor is it the story of a little girl and her beloved stuffed bunny. This creature is not avian, but it's a kissing cousin to Willems' pigeon. The blocky purple character with googly orange eyes wears a blue-and-red-striped shirt and pants (or perhaps pajamas), and it has a black, bulbous nose and protruding white teeth. The beginning letters of its monumental meal stand for common edible items: "Apple! Berries! Cereal!" Then it goes bananas, eating "Furniture!Kilt! Lunch Box! [and] Napkins!" that induce a run to the "POTTY!" No one will be surprised to learn that the creature is "Queasy" and needs to "Vomit." An adult figure arrives on the scene with hugs and kisses ("XO-XO-XO!"), and the creature emits a huge "YAWN" and is finally "Zonked." Children will follow right along with the creature's mishaps, and they will enjoy predicting (incorrectly) what it might eat and (correctly) what happens as its face starts to turn green. They'll also appreciate the kindliness of the adult figure who shows no anger but instead tends lovingly to its charge.For readers on the Pigeon end of the spectrum, this will hit the spot, but those who love Willems' quieter protagonists may find it an abrupt change of pace. (Picture book. 4-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.


Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Willems's offbeat ABC book follows a wide-eyed little-kid purple monster enthusiastically eating its way through the day (and the furniture). The culinary adventure begins at the breakfast table with a for "Apples!" and b for "Berries!" but then takes a more unconventional turn: "Furniture!" The creature's consumption, both food and not-food, is shown in cartoony, super-high-energy illustrations, most of them neatly contained in square or rectangular panels. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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