LEONARDO, THE TERRIBLE MONSTER

Leonardo is terrible at being a monster—he’s not scary at all. So he decides to be something else instead. This book, by the author/illustrator of DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS, is also narrated by him. Willems pulls out all the stops to entertain young listeners. His characterizations range from that of the grand ringmaster, who presents the different monsters, to failed little Leonardo, who looks like a mild-mannered relative of Sendak's famous monster. Willems's fun vocalizations are enhanced by the production’s expressive musical riffs, which suggest the emotions behind the simple illustrations. A large picture book with a small story, this tale is for audiences "as young as 3 and as old as 36." J.C.G. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]