The Loch Mess Monster

by Helen Lester, Lynn Munsinger (Illustrator)

Overview

Ever since Angus was a wee baby monster, living below the surface of Loch Ness, his parents tried to teach him to be a proper monster. But as Angus grows bigger, he gets sloppy. Puggy-nit shells (peanuts) are piling up; his grottie (dirty) laundry is in a heap; tatties (potatoes) litter the floor. It’s a mountain of a mess! And as Angus’s trash heap grows, pushing him away from the comforts of home, a surprising Loch Ness sighting of his own awaits on the surface of the lake....

Fans of Hooway for Wodney Wat and Tacky the Penguin will laugh-out-loud, as the hilarious team of Lester and Munsinger share a rollicking reminder of the virtues of a clean room!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544302037
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/25/2014
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	22 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Helen Lester has written many hilarious and popular picture books, including the Tacky the Penguin series and Hooway for Wodney Wat. She lives in New York. www.helenlester.com

Lynn Munsinger has illustrated more than ninety books for children, many written by her frequent collaborator, Helen Lester. She lives in Vermont.

Editorial Reviews

"Believable, appealing characters and pitch-perfect pacing combine nicely with Lester's always-humorous text and Munsinger's hilariously detailed illustrations in this cheerful cautionary tale."
—Kirkus "Munsinger's ink-and-watercolor illustrations add to the story's deadpan humor, and although this is a message book, the lesson is delivered with such hilarity it never feels preachy."
—Booklist "Munsinger's watercolor illustrators are bursting with detail, energy, and wittiness, and the three animals that spot Angus and frighten him are quite funny. Youngsters will fall in love with Angus, and adult will appreciate the laugh-out-loud lessons Angus learns about the hazards of a messy bedroom."
—School Library Journal

"Lester and Munsinger are masters of conveying useful messages in a funny and non-didactic way, and Angus's tale is no exception."
— Bulletin —

From the Publisher

03/01/2014
PreS-Gr 2—Three monsters live at the bottom of Loch Ness-Nessie; her husband; and the wee laddie, Angus. They all follow basic monster rules, which include picking up after themselves and never going to the surface of the loch. Little Angus loves to make a mess. His parents give him an ultimatum that if he does not clean up his room he will have to stay in it to keep everything from spreading. Undaunted, Angus continues to throw his things on his bedroom floor. Soon, he runs out of room and has to toss them on his bed. The pile soon becomes a mountain ("grottie laundry, puggy-nits,/spoon and skirpy cup"), and up it goes with Angus on it-until he is seen on the surface of the loch. Once curious bystanders see him, Sloppy Angus decides to clean up his act. Munsinger's watercolor illustrations are bursting with detail, energy, and wittiness, and the three animals that spot Angus and frighten him are quite funny. Youngsters will fall in love with Angus, and adults will appreciate the laugh-out-loud lesson Angus learns about the hazards of a messy bedroom. A glossary of Scottish terms "in order of appearance" is included at the front of the book. The amount of text and the pacing are ideal for storytime.—Krista Welz, North Bergen High School, NJ

School Library Journal

2013-12-18
Beware the Loch Mess monster! The legend of the Loch Ness monster is not exactly true. There is no single monster—there are three! Nessie, Fergus, and their wee laddie, Angus, live peacefully together beneath the surface of the lake, obeying proper monster etiquette by following five basic monster rules. All is well until Angus' untidy ways result in a grottie mess and break rule No. 2 ("Always pick up after yourself"), which leads to an extended stay in his room that's designed to keep his mess from spreading. Believable, appealing characters and pitch-perfect pacing combine nicely with Lester's always-humorous text and Munsinger's hilariously detailed illustrations in this cheerful cautionary tale, as the entertaining Angus, unbothered, simply lets his mess pile up—and up. Before long, he is breaking rule No. 1 ("NevereverEVER go up to the surface of the loch"). What hazardous mysteries await? What strange creatures will Angus see? And how can his problem ever be solved? A welcome addition to any collection, this enjoyable selection will have young readers laughing out loud and maybe even straightening up their rooms in seconds flat (or at least seriously considering the possibility of doing so). A glossary of Scottish terms is included. A lighthearted paean to the importance of cleanliness. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews