Horn Book (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

A green Godzilla-like monster is so hungry that it's angry, or "hangry." When a bird snatches its hot dog, the monster becomes really hangry, wreaking havoc in the city. The portmanteau can't sustain a whole picture book, but the comics-style layouts in this mock horror story's mixed-media illustrations are ideal for showcasing the monster's size changing according to its, er, hanger.

Kirkus Reviews

This little guy has a monstrous appetite.A little green monster riding the subway emerges at a stop holding a book entitled City Food Guide. Alas, Hot Diggity Dog, the restaurant the guide had highlighted as "BE$T HOTDOG EVER!!" is "Closed for Vacation." This makes the little kaiju angry, a feeling that's compounded by seeing others around him enjoying tasty foods. Comic book-style illustrations with panels and speech balloons show the monster repeating the phrases "I'm hungry! I'm angry!" as he balloons in size to visually represent his growing rage. Then, a page turn shows people fleeing as he stomps, Godzilla-like, through the city yelling, "I AM HANGRY." First responders in the persons of a black-appearing policeman and a woman firefighter with light brown skin offer cabbages and broccoli, but after downing the vegetables by the truckload, the monster declares, "I WANT MORE." When an olive-skinned street vendor offers up a hot dog with all the fixings, the monster is delighted—until a pigeon swoops in and snatches it, setting off another hangry fit and a chase. Resolution arrives when the vendor announces there's still "plenty of hot dogs…probably enough for everyone." It's happily-ever-after for all (except vegetarians), and the satiated monster shrinks back to his original size, hangry no more. While the joke is extended perhaps a few pages longer than necessary, both caregivers and small children will find much to chuckle at.Playful monster nosh. (Picture book. 3-6)

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

A pert, Godzilla-esque monster arrives in the big city, determined to experience a hot dog that its City Food Guide says is tops, but the joint proves to be closed for vacation. The monster, consumed by the titular mix of hunger and anger, balloons in size until it reaches full movie-monster mode, then wreaks havoc in the streets. First responders offer trucks full of broccoli and cabbage, which at least take the edge off the beast-s appetite. But what it really, really wants is a hot dog-with extra onions. Is that too much to ask? A graphic novelist making his picture book debut, Brockington (the CatStronauts series) uses panel-style framing to string readers along in the best way-four horizontal close-ups follow the dressing of a hot dog-and includes some fun visual asides (as the monster emerges from the subway, it passes Pizza Rat, a now-classic New York City internet meme). He also captures that quintessential big city sense of self-possession: when the monster approaches a hot dog cart, the vendor doesn-t blink an eye. -Could I have extra onions?- the monster asks, beseechingly. -You got it, bud,- the guy replies. Ages 4-8. Agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. (June)