Icky Sticky Monster (review)

In rhyming text and with digitally created pop-up illustrations, Lodge describes the activities of "Icky Sticky Monster," who hides in the toilet ("Icky Sticky Monster/ is being very naughty./ That stinky little monster/ is hiding in the potty!"), offers a stream of green snot to the viewer, consumes the contents of a trash can and some disgusting "juice," and, finally, asks the audience for a kiss. The bright candy colors and the cartoonish and friendly appearance of Icky Sticky Monster (a horned, snaggle-toothed, turquoise critter who looks a bit like a monster version of Hargreaves' Little Miss and Mr. Men characters) ensure that Icky Sticky provokes more chortles than nausea. Overall, the pop-up elements are clever, sturdy (as are the pages themselves), and well designed; the "toilet lid" that lifts to reveal the monster inside, complete with toilet paper remnants, and the movement of the monster's snot-covered finger as he retrieves the livid contents of his nose are particular winners. The short, snappy text and the size and boldness of the pop-ups make this a surefire choice for group sharing, but novice and reluctant readers will also enjoy tackling this on their own. This has obvious and wide appeal, and the kids who gravitate towards Shel Silverstein's grosser poetic offerings will be particularly pleased by Icky's actions.