THE MONSTER AND PUPPET SHOW!

The strength of the subconscious is strong in this tale of puppetry and performance.

In this latest entry in the Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! series, cheery, gray-skinned Monster, sporting a jaunty red cap, spots a green puppet abandoned on the street. Once on Monster’s hand, Puppet immediately launches into a conversation, encouraging Monster to put on a show. Game, Monster dubs it “The MONSTER and PUPPET Show,” before being corrected by Puppet: It’s actually “The PUPPET and Monster Show.” It becomes fairly clear that Puppet is the one calling the shots with this act. Monster is told when to tell jokes, perform funny dances, and sing. Fed up at last, Monster launches Puppet into the air, and the two come to a mutual understanding. Kids learning to read will find the words clear and rarely longer than the titular heroes’ names. The story is delightful and even contains a moment of existential crisis when Puppet has to inform Monster that they are one and the same. Monster’s response? “WHOA!” Meanwhile the well-laid-out, cartoonish art expertly expresses every emotion, sometimes with just the characters’ eyelids alone.

Monstrous fun awaits those willing to combine learning to read with puppetry hijinks.