The Loch Mess Monster

January 15, 2014
Beware the Loch Mess monster! The legend of the Loch Ness monster is not exactly true. There is no single monster--there are three! Nessie, Fergus, and their wee laddie, Angus, live peacefully together beneath the surface of the lake, obeying proper monster etiquette by following five basic monster rules. All is well until Angus' untidy ways result in a grottie mess and break rule No. 2 ("Always pick up after yourself"), which leads to an extended stay in his room that's designed to keep his mess from spreading. Believable, appealing characters and pitch-perfect pacing combine nicely with Lester's always-humorous text and Munsinger's hilariously detailed illustrations in this cheerful cautionary tale, as the entertaining Angus, unbothered, simply lets his mess pile up--and up. Before long, he is breaking rule No. 1 ("NevereverEVER go up to the surface of the loch"). What hazardous mysteries await? What strange creatures will Angus see? And how can his problem ever be solved? A welcome addition to any collection, this enjoyable selection will have young readers laughing out loud and maybe even straightening up their rooms in seconds flat (or at least seriously considering the possibility of doing so). A glossary of Scottish terms is included. A lighthearted paean to the importance of cleanliness. (Picture book. 3-6)

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March 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 2-Three monsters live at the bottom of Loch Ness-Nessie; her husband; and the wee laddie, Angus. They all follow basic monster rules, which include picking up after themselves and never going to the surface of the loch. Little Angus loves to make a mess. His parents give him an ultimatum that if he does not clean up his room he will have to stay in it to keep everything from spreading. Undaunted, Angus continues to throw his things on his bedroom floor. Soon, he runs out of room and has to toss them on his bed. The pile soon becomes a mountain ("grottie laundry, puggy-nits, /spoon and skirpy cup"), and up it goes with Angus on it-until he is seen on the surface of the loch. Once curious bystanders see him, Sloppy Angus decides to clean up his act. Munsinger's watercolor illustrations are bursting with detail, energy, and wittiness, and the three animals that spot Angus and frighten him are quite funny. Youngsters will fall in love with Angus, and adults will appreciate the laugh-out-loud lesson Angus learns about the hazards of a messy bedroom. A glossary of Scottish terms "in order of appearance" is included at the front of the book. The amount of text and the pacing are ideal for storytime.-Krista Welz, North Bergen High School, NJ

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2014
Preschool-G The creators of Tacky the Penguin and Wodney Wat here introduce Angus, a young monster from Loch Ness. This wee laddie usually follows his parents' rules concerning polite behavior and staying underwater, but one day his messes get out of control. Sent to his room, he joyously wallows in debris until the pile on his bed becomes so tall it breaks the surface of the Loch, exposing him to some locals. Surprisingly, it is Angus who is most frightened: he quickly scampers down from his perch and begins sorting, shelving, and recycling his entire mountain of trash. Munsinger's ink-and-watercolor illustrations add to the story's deadpan humor, and although this is a message book, the lesson is delivered with such hilarity it never feels preachy. The use of Scottish terms and local color add to the fun: Angus drops puggy-nit (peanut) shells, eats tatties-in-a-can (potatoes), and is frightened by a Heeland coo (Highland cow) sporting a tam-o'-shanter. Pair with Mark Teague's Pigsty (1994) or Linnea Riley's Mouse Mess (1997).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2014
Legendary monster Nessie's son Angus is banished to his room for being messy. When his personal junk pile bursts through the surface of the loch, one look at "land-monsters"--a goat, duck, and cow--scares Angus into cleaning up and remaining in the lake's depths where he belongs. Munsinger's watercolors further the silly humor. A Scottish glossary is included.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

August 1, 2014
PreS-Gr 1-Angus is a monster who lives with his parents in Loch Ness in Scotland. The family lives contentedly underwater there, guided by a simple five-rule code, until Angus thoughtlessly breaks monster rule No. 2: "Always pick up after yourself." In fact, he breaks the rule so regularly and egregiously that his fed-up parents banish him to his room in an attempt to stop the spread of his stuff throughout the house. His mess grows so large and tall that Angus accidentally breaks the most sacred rule of all: "NevereverEVER go up to the surface of the loch." Surfacing briefly, he is spotted by Nessie hunters, who, seeing the mess that accompanies Angus, dub him the Loch Mess Monster. With no accompaniment or sound effects, this is a straightforward vocal rendition of Helen Lester's picture book (Houghton Harcourt, 2014), carried entirely by the mellifluous Scottish brogue of Robert Ian Mckenzie. The narration begins with a glossary of Scottish terms pronounced and defined in the order they appear in the story. Young listeners will definitely want to pair the CD with the picture book so they don't miss out on Lynn Munsinger's charming illustrations. This silly tale will be a hit with wee laddies and lassies everywhere.-"Jennifer Verbrugge, State Library Services, Roseville, MN"

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.