BooksforTopics Reading for Pleasure Recommendations
Book Title: The Mud Monster (available here)
Author: Jonnie Wild
Illustrator: Brita Granstrom
Publisher: Otter-Barry
Publication Date: October 2018
Most Suitable for: EYFS/Y1
Reviewed By: Claire, Headteacher
The Mud Monster’s cover is striking and sets the tone for this amazing picture book which tackles the tricky subject of conservation imaginatively.
The illustrations are bold and the contrast between the red African sky and the dark browns and blacks of the ‘Mud Monster’ and the river are a huge discussion point from the start.
The story repeats words like ‘huge’ and ‘horrible’ and this reiterates how awfully the pollution affects each creature in the river.
The colourful and cheeky characters of the monkeys and the flamingoes sit in contrast and are drawn beautifully. We meet a selection of wild animals throughout the book, all of whom would be familiar to young children and act as a starting point for wider discussion.
The cascading and growing muddy monster really illustrates just how easily pollution can affect the wildlife if left untreated, while the repetitive language makes the story great for whole class reading, as it’s so easy to join in with.
The book would certainly make a brilliant addition to any Early Years book shelf and would be perfect for topics about conservation, Africa or animals. It’s good to know that the author donates his royalties to a conservation project in Africa too.
Curriculum Links: Science, conservation
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You can order The Mud Monster online or from your local bookshop or library.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to Claire for reviewing it.
