HANGRY

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.