My Big Bad Monster

by A. N. Kang, A. N. Kang (Illustrator)

Overview

Have you ever met your monster of self-doubt? This girl has. When she's had enough of his negativity, she discovers that with a little help from new friends and a lot of boisterous music, he'll disappear for good!
This sweet picturebook with energetic art by A. N. Kang will strike a chord in readers both big and small.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781368026734
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	07/04/2019
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
File size:	60 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

A. N. Kang (www.annakangdesign.com) is the author-illustrator of The Very Fluffy Kitty, Papillon, and Papillon Goes to the Vet. She grew up in a little town in South Korea, and since she was a kid, she has dealt with her own annoying monster. While she hasn't squashed the monster yet, she's learned to live with him. A. N. Kang now resides and works in New Jersey with her sassy cat, Papillon.

Editorial Reviews

06/03/2019

A child with a shock of scribbly red curls is hounded by a monster that derides her. The monster starts out as a little shadow in the corner of her room but grows into a large and pugnacious woolly creature. The more it hurls insults at the girl, the more she believes them: “Nobody wants to play with you!” the enormous monster shouts as she stands apart from other children. Eventually, the child starts to act like the monster herself, pointing and laughing at her peers. When she’s fed up with the noisy bully, she comes up with an inventive solution for drowning out its meanness—one that also draws new friends. Kang’s moody illustrations artfully convey how toxic negative dialogue can be while suggesting that there are different, creative approaches to quieting down the beast—even if anxiety doesn’t always clear off so easily in reality. Ages 3–5. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"While this is a perfect selection for children struggling with self-doubt, all children will benefit from a look at how our thoughts can influence our daily life and how we interact with others."— SLC

PRAISE FOR THE VERY FLUFFY KITTY, PAPILLON

"Kang's illustrations of the fluffy kitty . . . will induce plenty of giggles."— The New York Times Book Review

PRAISE FOR PAPILLON GOES TO THE VET

"A purrfect read-aloud for young kitty fans everywhere."— School Library Journal

PRAISE FOR PAPILLON GOES TO THE VET

"[A] perfect pick for beginning readers. And Kang's irresistible watercolor-and-pencil illustrations, lush with floral patterns, delicate blush tones, and, of course, heaps of adorable cats, steal the show. Little ones will be singing and dancing along with Papillon in no time."— Booklist

From the Publisher

07/01/2019

PreS-Gr 1—A young girl struggles to escape from a monster of her own self-doubt. The young protagonist is introduced as she draws a picture. As she stares at her creation, a small dark cloud floats towards her and begins to mock her drawing. Frustrated and overcome by the ridicule, the little girl scribbles over the drawing. The monster sticks around and its hurtful comments and overbearing presence make the girl feel small and powerless. She even begins to sound like the monster, yelling cruel things at others. Then one day when the little girl has finally had enough, she discovers something that drowns out the monster's ridicule and frees her creativity. Nearly wordless, this book relies on sharp contrasts in color and exuberantly written sound effects to communicate the young child's feelings of anxiety and inadequacy. The monster begins as a small, dark scribbled cloud, emerging with a "zzzzzpt" from the ether, but it grows in size and volume the more the little girl listens to its hateful words. The cute and slightly comical illustrations keep the tone light while still conveying the child's sadness and loneliness, and the minimal text adds just the right amount of narrative to move things along. VERDICT Though simple, this story provides a jumping-off point for conversations about self-doubt, creativity, and bravery. Recommended for purchase.—Laken Hottle, Providence Community Library

School Library Journal