Hangry

by Drew Brockington (Artist)

Overview

Drew Brockington, creator of the CatStronauts and Waffles and Pancake series, lends his graphic novel expertise and humor to a picture book tribute to Godzilla movies about a perennial problem: the crankiness that comes from an empty stomach!

When a young lizard monster gets a hankering for his favorite hot dog spot, he takes the train all the way to the city—only to find that the place is closed for vacation. But when this little monster gets too hungry, he starts to get angry. And when he gets hangry, this poor city is at risk of a full-scale monster attack. As his rage swells, so does he, until he's the size of a skyscraper, and it falls to the citizens to find him some food—and fast!

In a hilarious story about a hunger-induced tantrum, Drew Brockington uses speech bubbles and sight gags to bring a smile to the face of any little monster.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316559324
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	06/04/2019
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,042,584
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Drew Brockington is the creator of the CatStronauts series of graphic novels. Hangry is his first picture book. He lives with his family in Minneapolis.

Editorial Reviews

04/29/2019

A pert, Godzilla-esque monster arrives in the big city, determined to experience a hot dog that its City Food Guide says is tops, but the joint proves to be closed for vacation. The monster, consumed by the titular mix of hunger and anger, balloons in size until it reaches full movie-monster mode, then wreaks havoc in the streets. First responders offer trucks full of broccoli and cabbage, which at least take the edge off the beast’s appetite. But what it really, really wants is a hot dog—with extra onions. Is that too much to ask? A graphic novelist making his picture book debut, Brockington (the CatStronauts series) uses panel-style framing to string readers along in the best way—four horizontal close-ups follow the dressing of a hot dog—and includes some fun visual asides (as the monster emerges from the subway, it passes Pizza Rat, a now-classic New York City internet meme). He also captures that quintessential big city sense of self-possession: when the monster approaches a hot dog cart, the vendor doesn’t blink an eye. “Could I have extra onions?” the monster asks, beseechingly. “You got it, bud,” the guy replies. Ages 4–8. Agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"Children and teachers alike will laugh out loud as they identify with the anger of the normally gentle monster not getting what he is expecting and the humor of finding a substitute just to have it snatched away at the last minute."—School Library Connection

"Uses panel-style framing to string readers along in the best way...and includes some fun visual asides."—Publishers Weekly

"This could make for a lively storytime performance."
—BCCB

"Young audiences will commiserate with the monster's single-minded pursuit of a favorite food."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

06/01/2019

K-Gr 2—A monster with a penchant for hot dogs terrorizes a city in this picture book from the creator of the "Catstronauts" graphic novel series. A child-sized green monster rides the train into an unnamed city, excitedly reviewing a guide to the best hot dog joints in town. But what's a hungry creature to do when the top spot is closed for vacation? This dinosaur-like foodie becomes "HANGRY", growing to the size of Godzilla and quickly taking out his frustration on the streetscape. Townsfolk offer broccoli and cabbage by the truckload, but it's the arrival of a hot dog cart that finally provides hope of satisfying the monster's appetite. Though a pigeon takes off with the first offering, the hot dog vendor announces he "has enough for everyone," and soon the monster and the citizens are happily munching as he slowly returns to his normal size. Brockington's graphic novel background is evident in the paneled layout and colorful mixed media cartoon illustrations. The monster makes for an appealing protagonist, full of personality and a relatable range of emotions. Overall, it's a thin but fun story, and young audiences will commiserate with the monster's single-minded pursuit of a favorite food. VERDICT Not a first-purchase, but a solid addition to larger picture book collections.—Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN

School Library Journal

2019-03-17
This little guy has a monstrous appetite.

A little green monster riding the subway emerges at a stop holding a book entitled City Food Guide. Alas, Hot Diggity Dog, the restaurant the guide had highlighted as "BE$T HOTDOG EVER!!" is "Closed for Vacation." This makes the little kaiju angry, a feeling that's compounded by seeing others around him enjoying tasty foods. Comic book-style illustrations with panels and speech balloons show the monster repeating the phrases "I'm hungry! I'm angry!" as he balloons in size to visually represent his growing rage. Then, a page turn shows people fleeing as he stomps, Godzilla-like, through the city yelling, "I AM HANGRY." First responders in the persons of a black-appearing policeman and a woman firefighter with light brown skin offer cabbages and broccoli, but after downing the vegetables by the truckload, the monster declares, "I WANT MORE." When an olive-skinned street vendor offers up a hot dog with all the fixings, the monster is delighted—until a pigeon swoops in and snatches it, setting off another hangry fit and a chase. Resolution arrives when the vendor announces there's still "plenty of hot dogs…probably enough for everyone." It's happily-ever-after for all (except vegetarians), and the satiated monster shrinks back to his original size, hangry no more. While the joke is extended perhaps a few pages longer than necessary, both caregivers and small children will find much to chuckle at.

Playful monster nosh. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews