The Loch Mess Monster by Helen Lester (review)

Wee Angus is the smallest—and messiest—of a trio of monsters living at the bottom of Scotland’s Loch Ness. His parents, tiring of the vast accumulation of “skirpy dishes,” “puggy-nit shells,” and empty “tattie-in-a-can” cans that threaten to overtake their living areas, restrict Angus to his room until he can follow Basic Monster Rule #2: “Always pick up after yourself.” Angus is quite content to stay in his room until his mess rises like a mountain, pushing him above the waterline of the loch and putting him within view of three monster-watchers, a duck, a goat, and a “Heeland coo” (Highland cow, for those not versed in Scots). The sight of the three unfamiliar land critters shocks poor Angus into a cleaning binge. While his amazed parents initially think he must be ill (“Are ye peelie-wallie, laddie?”), they happily accept the transformation, although Angus occasionally makes “a very wee mess” just to prove he’s not perfect. Lester and Munsinger are masters of conveying useful messages in a funny and non-didactic way, and Angus’s tale is no exception. The lively dialect and comic storyline couches the clean-up lesson in giggle-inducing humor, and a Scottish glossary is helpfully provided up front (no pronunciations are given, but most of the terms are fairly decodable). Munsinger’s familiar line and watercolor art retains its usual humor: blue-haired, bulgy-eyed, dragon-like monsters have animated, emotive faces, and clever illustrative details (such as a family portrait, labeled “Grandpa,” of a serpentine shape coming out of the lake, and Angus’ and his dad’s plaid tam o’ shanters) add to the fun. This would make a diverting counterpoint to a more straightforward title on the Loch Ness monster myth, or a droll and gentle nudge to encourage youngsters to do some tidying.