Bruce Eric Kaplan

Henry and Eve, those poorly-behaved siblings who were kidnapped by monsters in Bruce Eric Kaplan's Monsters Eat Whiny Children, return in this second picture-book devoted to their adventures. Having fallen into an arguing "phase" this time (in the previous book it was a whining phase), their conflict escalates, eventually spreading from their own home through their neighborhood, out into their town, and even throughout the world. Eventually their argument consumes everything around show more them...

Like its predecessor, Meaniehead pairs a perceptive and humorous story with amusing cartoon-style illustrations. Kaplan has a gift for observation - "There's nothing sillier than fighting about what belongs to whom, but no kids and even fewer adults know that" - but his story is never overwhelmed by its message. I appreciated the exploration of sibling conflict here, and the way the story highlights the nature of fighting, and how it can escalate far beyond its original source. Recommended to anyone who has read and enjoyed the first story about Henry and Eve (although it is not necessary to read them together), and to anyone who appreciated a more prickly sense of humor in their picture-books. show less

When Henry and Eve, two whiny children who are warned by their father that monsters might eat them, are kidnapped by just such a creature, they find themselves almost made into any number of dishes, from whiny-child salad to whiny-child cake. Fortunately for them, the monster's wife, neighbors, and aunt-in-law all intervene to express their preferences, and the ensuing chaos offers the siblings the opportunity to escape...

A cartoonist who has published his work in such adult periodicals as show more The New Yorker, and a writer who has contributed to television series such as Seinfeld, Bruce Eric Kaplan made his children's book debut with Monsters Eat Whiny Children. An amusing examination of one of those old parental chestnuts - if you do something bad, X (in this case, monsters) will get you - the story here is matter-of-factly absurd, and quite entertaining. The cartoon-style artwork is well suited to the tale, and accentuates the humor throughout. This is definitely one I would recommend to those looking for sharp, rather than sweet picture-books. Think Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back, or Sylviane Donnio's I'd Really Like to Eat a Child. For my part, I will be tracking down some of Kaplan's subsequent picture-books. show less

En route to their weekly Saturday food shopping, the Krupke family find their day disrupted when daughter Sally announces that someone has farted. This sets off a hilarious series of denials, accusations and argument, leading to an almost-accident, an encounter with a police officer, arrest and imprisonment, and eventually, an emotional appearance before a judge. Although eventually freed by the law, the Krupkes find that after all that drama, they still have their weekly chores to show more do...

There is a hilariously deadpan sense of humor in author/artist Bruce Eric Kaplan's picture-books for younger children, from Monsters Eat Whiny Children to Meaniehead, and Someone Farted continues the trend. I found the story here quite amusing - the back-and-forth arguments, the surreal series of events which are depicted so matter-of-factly - and the accompanying cartoon-style artwork only adds to the fun. Recommended to Kaplan fans, and to anyone who enjoys picture-books with a darker, more surreal sense of humor. show less

A simple plot goes a long way to create a funny tale, which leaves smiles, thoughts, and maybe a sense of familiarity.

Morris can't wait to share one of his own favorite books from his childhood with his son, Benny. But to his huge disappointment, Benny refuses to even give it a glance...let alone a listen. Morris is about to give up that easily and does everything he can think of to trick Benny into letting him read it to him. The attempts become more and more extreme until Morris finds show more himself in a real bind...and Benny grabs the book.

This one had me smiling right away because it's a situation which happens every now and then in our family...and I imagine that's true for others, too. It did strike me a little odd that this one starts with the father and not the son, but as it rolls along, it couldn't be better. The father is part ridiculous (and kids will roll their eyes and his insistence), and yet, it's hard not to empathize with him just a tiny bit, especially when Benny relentlessly turns him down over and over again. Kids, in other words, can identify with both sides, laugh at the extreme, and kind of wish Benny would just give in. And where it all leads is something nobody will see coming.

The artwork is as simple as the plot, and it allows the tale to be brought across with extra humor and sympathy, while never steering into side details. At first, I wondered about it but soon, I was drawn in and looked forward to every page.

The writing is great for a read aloud and fits to the age group nicely. The text is kept short but allows the meaning and scenes to hit with the impact they need. It's a quick, easy tale, making it great for even those listeners who might be easily distracted sometimes. show less