March 1, 2018
On the spur of the moment, anyone can make a mistake.In a twist on Eric Carle's classic Do You Want to Be My Friend? (1971) and the many like-themed quests trailing in its wake, a suddenly friendless yellow monster makes the titular confession, mourns, and then goes in search of a new companion. Following a string of refusals that range from "No, you are too big," and "No, you are too scary" (not to mention a terse "No") to a terrifying, page filling "Rrrooar!" the monster begins to lose heart. Will it be lonely forever? But, no fears, a suitable (teal) candidate sidles up at last: "Hello! I will be your friend." Cue the warm smiles and clasped paws...until a page turn reveals only the new arrival, guiltily admitting, "I just ate my friend." Arranged in simple compositions and positioned for maximum comic effect, McKinnon's monsters don't look at all feral (although the protagonist does have a mouthful of sharp teeth, they are very tiny, commanding much less attention than its large, googly eyes and potato-shaped body), so the summary fate of the yellow one may come as a surprise (at least the first time through) to audiences who expect a more-conventional ending. Readers who prefer their comedy on the dark side la Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back (2011) or Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross' Tadpole's Promise (2005) will relish this alternative outcome.Gives "friend" a disquieting nuance. (Picture book. 5-7)
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May 31, 2017
Making friends can be hard but keeping them can be even harder. Especially if you’ve just eaten your friend, like the nameless monster in Heidi McKinnon’s debut picture book. The little monster is filled with remorse (after all, it was a good friend!) and embarks on a search for a new companion—but it doesn’t have much luck; the other creatures all claim it’s either too big, too small, or too loud to be their friend. Finally, a monster offers its friendship. Heidi McKinnon’s simple graphic illustrations and creative use of texture showcase an adorable cast of monsters. The pairing of these illustrations with McKinnon’s straightforward storytelling recalls the humour of Jon Klassen’s ‘Hat Trilogy’ and Philip Bunting’s Mopoke. Perfect for children aged two and up, I Just Ate My Friend can be used to discuss friendships and why we shouldn’t mistreat our friends for fear of losing them. Or, it could simply be read as a hilarious monster story with a touch of the (child-appropriate) macabre.
Michael Earp is the manager and buyer for the Younger Su