Hangry

April 1, 2019
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)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 29, 2019
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 1, 2019

K-Gr 2-A monster with a penchant for hot dogs terrorizes a city in this picture book from the creator of the "Catstronauts" graphic novel series. A child-sized green monster rides the train into an unnamed city, excitedly reviewing a guide to the best hot dog joints in town. But what's a hungry creature to do when the top spot is closed for vacation? This dinosaur-like foodie becomes "HANGRY", growing to the size of Godzilla and quickly taking out his frustration on the streetscape. Townsfolk offer broccoli and cabbage by the truckload, but it's the arrival of a hot dog cart that finally provides hope of satisfying the monster's appetite. Though a pigeon takes off with the first offering, the hot dog vendor announces he "has enough for everyone," and soon the monster and the citizens are happily munching as he slowly returns to his normal size. Brockington's graphic novel background is evident in the paneled layout and colorful mixed media cartoon illustrations. The monster makes for an appealing protagonist, full of personality and a relatable range of emotions. Overall, it's a thin but fun story, and young audiences will commiserate with the monster's single-minded pursuit of a favorite food. VERDICT Not a first-purchase, but a solid addition to larger picture book collections.-Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 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 �cf2]really�cf1] 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.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)