Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Reggie's summer job as housesitter for a family away on travels turns out to be unexpectedly happy.At a time that would normally be filled with exciting pursuits, Reggie is instead spending a quiet, solitary summer near the ocean. Reggie's slightly unhappy and fearful vibe hints that all has not been going well in the monster's life. There's a pile of unanswered correspondence to deal with and an unsettling dream on the first night in the big house. Reggie is befriended by purple-spotted Emily, one of five sisters in a family of multihued, rabbitlike creatures. Emily is affable and talkative, ready to help Reggie overcome loneliness. Emily has her own misery at being dismissed by one sister who is scornful of her more whimsical sensibilities. Reggie and Emily find support in each other during a slightly scary adventure in a sea serpent's lair. Reggie, who looks like an unprepossessing one-eyed, small blob with pointed ears, can, as demonstrated in the opening pages, stretch like rubber to reach a high shelf-and has other, even more impressive, abilities that make appearances later. Vandorn's sunny, not-quite-pastel palette transforms the shadows that accompany Reggie's arrival into a landscape of green fields, colorful gardens, and warm blue sea. Her rounded monster/animal characters are creatively varied and intriguing, and her storytelling simple but nuanced.A sweetly encouraging look at the way friendship can mend heart and soul. (Graphic fiction. 7-10)

School Library Journal Starred Review (Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Gr 2-5 Reggie, a shape-shifting young monster, who most often appears as a brown cyclops, is more than happy to spend his summer in the cozy home he's house sitting for his cousins. After a traumatic experience in a cave with a fellow explorer, grumpy Reggie wants a bit of quiet. It's not long before he meets Emily, a rabbitlike monster with the boundless enthusiasm of a large puppy. Emily takes a reluctant Reggie out to the seaside and into the village and introduces him to her sisters and loving parents. While Reggie gains trust in his new friends, he also helps Emily with sibling squabbles and insecurities. Additional characters include tigers and dinosaurs and a sea monster, all of whom are friendly in their own ways. Reggie learns how to deal with his fears, and Emily gets a chance to prove herself to her sisters. Vandorn's endearing illustrations bring to life a lively and serene world. Subtle details add to the experiencefor instance, dialogue bubbles are outlined in different colors depending on who is speaking. The very end of the story necessitates flipping back to the beginning, but it's a minor quibble. VERDICT Readers will wish that all monsters were this lovely. A winning tale of an unlikely friendship that will appeal to imaginative kids who love to daydream about adventures. Gretchen Hardin, Bee Cave P.L., TX

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Reggie's summer job as housesitter for a family away on travels turns out to be unexpectedly happy.At a time that would normally be filled with exciting pursuits, Reggie is instead spending a quiet, solitary summer near the ocean. Reggie's slightly unhappy and fearful vibe hints that all has not been going well in the monster's life. There's a pile of unanswered correspondence to deal with and an unsettling dream on the first night in the big house. Reggie is befriended by purple-spotted Emily, one of five sisters in a family of multihued, rabbitlike creatures. Emily is affable and talkative, ready to help Reggie overcome loneliness. Emily has her own misery at being dismissed by one sister who is scornful of her more whimsical sensibilities. Reggie and Emily find support in each other during a slightly scary adventure in a sea serpent's lair. Reggie, who looks like an unprepossessing one-eyed, small blob with pointed ears, can, as demonstrated in the opening pages, stretch like rubber to reach a high shelf-and has other, even more impressive, abilities that make appearances later. Vandorn's sunny, not-quite-pastel palette transforms the shadows that accompany Reggie's arrival into a landscape of green fields, colorful gardens, and warm blue sea. Her rounded monster/animal characters are creatively varied and intriguing, and her storytelling simple but nuanced.A sweetly encouraging look at the way friendship can mend heart and soul. (Graphic fiction. 7-10)

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

Cyclops Reggie, a small, shape-shifting monster (imagine an UglyDoll as interpreted by Miyazaki) is taking some time after a frightening adventure with his friend Clovis leaves him feeling isolated and unsettled (-Surprises aren-t fun all the time-). On his own for the summer while caring for his cousins- house, he reluctantly enters a conversation with Emily, a gregarious rabbit-like creature who is also a good listener. With comic enthusiasm, Emily helps introduce Reggie to new adventures and new friends-sweet-faced beasts including tigers and owls, and a golden glowing sea serpent (characters introduced in Vandorn-s Crabapple Trouble also make cameo appearances). The color palette is clear and bright, and the panels- irregular outlines enliven their carefully composed, easily legible interiors. Vandorn effectively employs a pastoral seaside landscape to slow the story-s rhythm and visually work through Reggie-s internal struggles and growing confidence. Though the ending comes a bit abruptly, this appealing, candy-colored treat offers a winning friendship and gentle encouragement: -It takes a lot of practice to be brave.- Ages 5-8. (June)