ALA Booklist (Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Oskar (a boy) and Theodore (a bear) have an awesome Saturday routine. First their dad drives them to the bakery for donuts, and then they all go to . . . the library! While Dad heads upstairs to the boring adult section, Oskar and Theodore floof onto beanbag chairs and start reading from an enticing pile of books. They've barely turned a page, however, when they're interrupted by a big-footed, many-headed, book-eating monster. Boy and bear do their best to escape, hide, and bluff their way to safety, but to no avail. Even diplomacy and a donut bribe backfire, and just as it looks like Oskar and Theodore might end up as the monster's lunch ("Grab the sprinkles, Winston!"), the librarian comes to the rescue. OHora's signature retro-style illustrations, as seen in his My Cousin Momo (2015) and Ame Dyckman's Wolfie the Bunny (2015), boast bold colors and hilarious details that match his zany story. Concluding with a satisfying lesson and a car full of books, this over-the-top library fantasy should fit the storytime bill nicely.

Horn Book

It appeared there was a monster in the library.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

OHora (My Cousin Momo) brings his playful wit and retro-kitchen-appliance palette to the story of Theodore and Oskar, whose weekly library visit takes a green and scaly turn. They-re brothers: Oskar-s human, and Theodore is a bear in plaid pants and a baseball cap. On library day, they stop by the doughnut store (-Dad always said that a day of quiet exploration required a proper breakfast-), grab some books, and settle in to read. Suddenly, a giant green foot smashes the beanbag Oskar was sitting on, and the two find themselves facing a hungry five-headed monster that thinks the library is a restaurant. After Theodore and Oskar endure some snarky threats from the monster heads-Chuck, Seymour, Winston, Pat, and Bob-the librarian, Ms. Watson, saves the day: -Story time, everyone! Please sit crisscross applesauce!- OHora brings action and danger to what might have been another book extolling books (-Books sound so much better than they taste!- enthuses Bob), not to mention some great made-up book titles like Ole Bluer and Miniature Squirrel Paintings of the 14th Century. Ages 3-5. Agent: Sean McCarthy, Sean McCarthy Literary. (July)