It's Not Easy Being Green: Monsters Aren't Real by Kerstin Schoene

"MONSTERS AREN'T REAL.

THEY CAN'T BE."

"THEN, WHAT AM I?

It's hard enough on a guy's self-concept to be a bit, well, quirky-looking. Four horns. Big lopsided eyes with a beady stare. Green lichens growing on his head.

And now you're saying I don't even EXIST? But... look! There I am in the mirror. Listen here!

"I'M BIG AS A MONSTER.

I'M SCARY AS A MONSTER.

AND I'LL PROVE IT!"

Our (actually quite cute) monster spray paints "MONSTERS ARE REAL!" all over walls and hangs signs from every tree. Alas, it is all to no avail. People just don't see a monster no matter how much he uproots saplings and waves his claws about. Finally, tears appear in frustration. What's a lonely monster to do?

But, of course, our little no-monster monster finally finds a kindred spirit in Kerstin Schoene's sweet little story of finding yourself at last, in her just-published Monsters Aren't Real (Picture Book) (Kane Miller, 2012). As Kermit the Frog once pointed out in song, "It's not easy being green," and Schoene's appealing little monster's search for a place of his own will draw smiles from youngsters who won't be able to keep from rooting for this displaced little guy.