Monster Mash

7/2/2019

My Big Bad Monster by A. N. Kang

What should one do when that first little niggling notion of self-doubt creeps into one's mind?

Author/illustrator A. N. Kang envisions this uncertainty as a monster. It begins as a tiny squiggle escaping from a young girl's line drawing. When she steps back to examine her finished art, the scrawl leaps off of the floor, confronting the artist and her finished work. The monster's mocking laugh shames the youngster and compels her to obliterate her drawing with dark scribbles.

The monster moves on, taking residence on her head with derogatory thoughts about her appearance, her performance in school, and her playmates. Each negative thought that the girl accepts feeds the monster and causes it to grow larger. The influence is so pervasive, that this sweet little girl is in danger of becoming a monster herself.

Quite by accident, she discovers a solution to her problem. Noise causes the monster to cower under the table. She wonders: what if she were to create a series of interesting sounds? Our inventive problem-solver sets to work with pipes and pans, bottles and spoons. Viola! She makes her own "spectacular” sound. The music is a welcoming invitation for others to join her in making music and making friends.

Kang uses expressive faces and an economy of words to tell the tale. The menacing squiggle of a monster contrasts with the girl's masses of red curls. As the monster grows, it covers the entire two-page spread. When music overpowers
negativity, the spunky little music-makers completely replace the monster and fill the pages with their unique sound effects.

My Big Bad Monster is a charming picture book celebrating overcoming destructive thinking and making one's own music.