A Crankenstein Valentine

Praise for A Crankenstein Valentine:
"A humorous story... My 5-year-old has me reading this book to her again and again."

Praise for Crankenstein:"Expect many re-read requests from Crankensteins who may (or may not) recognize themselves."

"Will the creature ever turn from "MEHHRRRR!" to merry? Youngsters will roar along with Crankenstein through this silly and sympathetic story of grumpy-grouchies."

"Whoa. Be prepared for the intense frustrations, the moody outbursts and the green scowls of Crankenstein...Each setting reveals sly comic elements that both kids and their grown-ups will appreciate. Readers will laugh out loud...Get ready to read this aloud a lot."

"Sometimes-when you have to go to school, when you have to take cough syrup-all there is to say is "MEHHRRRR!"... This is a No, David! for slightly older kids..."

"The text of this book is simple but effective: Crankenstein, who is green and none too pretty, but distinctly boy-like, never says a proper English word, but responds to all cheerful questions with loud monster-speak noises. Berger...has a well-honed sense of comic timing that little kids find hilarious, and 'Crankenstein,' with its many exclamation marks, growls and grumbles should unleash the actor in any adult kind enough to read it aloud.

To convey Crankenstein's crabby mood, Santat uses a lot of sickly brown and green. But just when the reader has had about enough of that putrid palette, Crankenstein meets another monster, and like two negative numbers, they come together to make something positive. As temperaments brighten, so too do Santat's scenes, which are suddenly sunny. For the sake of Crankenstein's poor parents, let's hope the weather holds!"

"Caldecott winner Dan Santat's illustrations are hilarious, expressive, slightly gross, and absolutely delightful."