Rachel Bright

The only non-cuddly resident of Cutesville, Monster longed for friends, companionship, and most of all, for love. Setting out one day on a quest to find what he's been missing, Monster searched high and low, all to no avail. Beaten down and defeated, he was heading back to Cutesville when he met a slightly hairy she-monster on the bus...

An engaging tale of a sympathetic misfit who only wants the same love and companionship he sees others around him enjoying, Love Monster pairs an endearing show more story with bright, appealing artwork, created through a process called 'solar etching,' in which ultraviolet light is used to make printing plates. As someone who likes block-printing type artwork, I was pretty much guaranteed to find Love Monster appealing, stylistically speaking, but I also appreciated the vivid but subtle color palette that Rachel Bright employed. All in all, an enjoyable little cream-puff of a picture-book, and more than enough to convince me to track down more about Love Monster. show less

Worrysaurus is ready for a walk and a picnic on a perfect, sunny day until he comes across a lizard who thinks it might storm. Suddenly, Worrysaurus is overthinking everything and concerned about what might happen next. What can he do to calm back down before his whole day is ruined?

This book is very good for those kids (and adults!) who tend to ruminate. It reminds readers to stay "in the moment" and to find small glimmers of happiness to keep themselves grounded. Worry is visualized as a show more butterfly in Worrysaurus's stomach that can be chased away, with the only butterflies left being the ones in the sky to be admired. It's a very pretty metaphor and a nice way to help even preschoolers understand some pretty big concepts.

The illustrations, including the aforementioned butterfly as well as a dark storm cloud, help to convey the changes in Worrysaurus's mood. Rhyming text makes for a nice flow generally although some of the rhymes are a little forced ("shone" and "gone" for example) or might need some explanation for American audiences at least ("wellies" instead of rainboots so it could pair with "jellies"). show less

When Love Monster returns home from his vacation, feeling a little down about his adventures being over, he discovers a box of chocolates waiting for him on his front step, and becomes quite excited. Monsters, as everyone know, love chocolate! After wrestling with his conscience - should he share this largesse with his friends, or keep it all to himself? - Love Monster opts for generosity, thereby discovering just how beloved he is...

The third picture-book to feature this endearing and show more slightly hairy resident of Cutesville, following upon Love Monster and Love Monster and the Perfect Present, Love Monster and the Last Chocolate highlights the idea that we benefit as much from our own generosity as the ostensible recipients of that generosity. Our titular hero was as endearing as ever here - personally, I do identify with a somewhat scruffy individual who loves chocolates! - and the artwork, created via a process called solar etching, just as cute as in previous installments of Love Monster's story. I was a little confused to see Love Monster being depicted as so popular with the more cuddly residents of his hometown, as I thought the whole point of the first story was that he had no friends and needed to look elsewhere for companionship, but perhaps we are meant to think that his relationship with his special lady friend - who is sadly absent in this installment of the series - has opened him up to other friendships? Whatever the case may be, this is one I would recommend to anyone who enjoyed the first two Love Monster books, as well as to anyone looking for children's stories about generosity and friendship. show less

This story follows a cute, slightly awkward monster who lives in a place where no one else looks quite like him. He’s searching for love but feels out of place because he’s not as “perfect” as everyone else. He worries that he might never find someone who’ll love him for who he truly is.
What I love about Love Monster is how relatable it is. Even though the main character is a monster, his feelings of loneliness and wanting to be loved are so universal. It’s a sweet reminder that show more love doesn’t always look the way we expect it to, and sometimes, we need to be patient and trust that the right person (or monster, in this case!) will come along. Our tribe is out there. The illustrations are absolutely adorable, with lots of soft colors and whimsical details that bring the monster and his world to life in such a delightful way. The story itself is simple, but heartwarming, and I think it’s perfect for young readers who are just starting to understand the concept of love and friendship. show less