Horn Book (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2000)

A rhyming text shows how a monster mama lovingly combs cobwebs from bangs, takes her darling swimming in the swamp, and sings lullabies "of things that shriek and moan and creep." Buehner's lively illustrations are filled with suitably spooky details, yet the bright colors and humorous creatures keep the art and story light enough for preschoolers.

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

In a """"tender tone sure to make this a bedtime favorite,"""" according to PW, a rhyming verse describes the myriad ways a green, googly-eyed mother shows her boundless love for her son. Ages 3-8. (Sept.)

School Library Journal

PreS-This amusing love poem will delight preschoolers and their mothers as they enjoy the rhyming story and pore over the detailed illustrations. Little monster tells readers the many ways his mama shows that she loves him: she attends all of his "beastball games"; sings him lullabies and tucks him into bed; and "She gives me great big hairy hugs,/bakes me cookies filled with bugs,/and when I'm sick she's twice as nice-/she gives me lizard juice with ice." The story is humorous, though slight, and works well, despite a few moments of awkward rhythm, but it is the illustrations that shine. Buehner's three-eyed monsters live in a haunted house that includes a one-eyed dog, spiders over the bed, and cobwebs everywhere, yet they manage to look both friendly and monstrous at the same time. Details such as bug earrings and a blue, hairy beastball with eyes and fangs, as well as ordinary children as the "scary things" that frighten little monster, are sure to tickle young funny bones. Ending with the line, "Oops-one other thing is true:/Your monster mama loves you too!" Leuck delivers a reassuring message in a funny, mildly scary story. Perfect for storytimes.-Amy Lilien-Harper, Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.