At long last! Out later this month, you can get ahead of the rest by ordering up your very own hard or softcover copy of our beloved, just-wants-to-give-hugs monster.
PRE-ORDER The Squeezor is Coming!
Advance Review for “The Squeezor is Coming!” by Terry Vittone
“Kids will love the book’s splashy color, monsters aplenty, and gross-out humor. Parents will love the story’s durable lesson: be yourself.” – Terry Vittone
I’m once again happy and humbled to present another advance review for The Squeezor is Coming!, from Terry Vittone.
The Squeezor is Coming Book Review
by Terry Vittone
Your little monsters will love it!
Every kid can relate to scrambling for cover when a monster comes calling, and in Becky Benishek’s delightful The Squeezor Is Coming, the flight response is at the center of a familiar but inventive story arc.
Grotesque in appearance but sensitive, alert, and helpful by nature, the Squeezor is feared and misunderstood by the other monsters who live in Ghastly Gigapolis, the story’s spooky hamlet. Given his wicked fangs and meat-hook claws, it’s a safe bet the Squeezor is not exclusively an herbivore!
But allowing for all his intimidating hardware, the Squeezor is a cross of sorts, between one of Sendak’s Wild Things and the Elephant Man, terrifying to behold but trembling inside with a need to belong. But will the Squeezor be able to hug his way into his neighbor’s hearts before their fear lurches into torch and pitchfork proportions?
Benishek’s masterful prose revels in wordplay that spoofs the genre, and Matt Fiss’s illustrations are consistently crisp, imaginative, and frighteningly full of amusing detail.
Kids will love the book’s splashy color, monsters aplenty, and gross-out (Nose Nougats, anyone?) humor.
Parents will love the story’s durable lesson: be yourself. The protagonist’s singularities, though at first an isolating burden and terror to the community at large, ultimately give him unique abilities—and opportunities—to contribute.
Highly recommended!
Thank you so much, Terry, for your wonderful words. I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Advance review by Ashish Kejriwal for “The Squeezor is Coming!”
“This is not just another story book. It has a strong scholastic element to it.” – Ashish Kejriwal
I am both happy and humbled to share this amazing review of The Squeezor is Coming! by Ashish Kejriwal. Below are his thoughts as he read it. Enjoy! (I did.)
The Squeezor is Coming Book Review
by Ashish Kejriwal
Cover Page
Oh here comes another book about cute monsters! What attracted me towards it immediately were the two names: ‘Squeezor’ and ‘Ghastly Gigapolis’.
After all, what is better than having just one cute monster? A town full of them, of course!
The names stood out and had a great cuteness appeal. A promising fun journey from the title page itself!
Rich Articulation
You can tell a masterpiece by the first note that is played. Just like that, the very introduction of Squeezor blew my expectations, beyond and away.
Never have I seen such well articulated richness in writing after Aldous Huxley. Very few people can add so much color through expressive selection of words. One sentence each, compels the reader to take a moment to imagine.
Illustrations
Very clean, clear and colorful. It sets the tone for the already well crafted story. Excellent choice of lines, curves and highlighted expressions.
I could dive into the untold idiosyncrasies of Squeezor and other characters.
Hidden Treasures
Figure of Speech: Just look at the treats spread out on the Apothecary’s shelves!! Each item makes you FEEL it. Transportation into a sensory world known only to children. [Author’s note: Scroll to the bottom of this review for a link that will show you these treats!]
Social Aptitude: This story will turn the readers into givers and social enthusiasts. A brilliant one on how society works.
Character Names: Brilliant branding of each character in Ghastly Gigapolis. I would expect sequels already and a dive into their world in future.
Values: Wish I could list down all of them. Here are a few:
- Need to belong
- Need to add value to others
- Need to understand others
- Need to love oneself and include others
Conclusion
This is not just another story book. It has a strong scholastic element to it.
I’d recommend it highly for use in kindergarten, junior and middle school. A brilliant piece for all ages who enjoy playfulness in language.
Beautiful story, richly authored by Becky Benishek.
Thank you so much, Ashish!
You can find Ashish on Twitter and on Facebook with his magazine, Beyond the Written.
Check out the inside of the Apothecary shop [YouTube]!
