Monster Party!

Monster is “so excited” to get invited to a birthday party that he even picks out spiffy underwear and combs his tuft of blue fur. Then it’s time for some serious fun, what with the dancing, games, pizza with insect toppings (“Monster munch./ Monster crunch./ Monster eats a buggy lunch”), and food fight, this one featuring pink cupcakes. Bach’s (Night-Night, Forest Friends) minimalist rhyming, built around Cookie Monster–style diction, is too literal and monotonous to add much to the story (“Monster unwrap./ Monster clap./ Monster likes his friend’s new cap”). However, the combination of Bach’s visual pacing, a cast that’s more Uglydolls-cute than creepy, and an offbeat palette (the deep teal, lemon yellow, dark rose, and lime green aren’t the usual monster story choices) captures the low-level tribal frenzy that animates many a kid’s birthday celebration. Bach knows what kids know: the harder you party, the more legit the birthday. No wonder Monster “huffs & stomps about” when Dad comes by to pick him up. Ages 2–5. [em]Agent: Teresa Kietlinski, Prospect Agency.[/em] [em](Aug.) [/em]