PPBF – Monsters in the Briny

Regular readers will notice that the picture books I’ve been reading lately are set at the beach or in/on the water. With so many heat waves across the northern hemisphere, I’m trying to stay as close to the water as I can, including in the books I read. Today’s Perfect Picture Book continues this watery theme.

 

Title: Monsters in the Briny

Written By: Lynn Becker

Illustrated By:  Scott Brundage

Publisher/Date: Sleeping Bear Press/2022

Suitable for Ages: 4-8

Themes/Topics: rhyming, sea shanty, pirates, sea monsters

Opening:

What do you do with a grumpy kraken?

Crabby, cranky, crusty kraken?

What do you do with a grumpy kraken?

Kraken in the briny.

Brief Synopsis: Written to the tune of “What do you do with a…”, Monsters in the Briny is a rollicking exploration of sea monsters.

Links to Resources:

• Discover fun facts about the ocean’s weirdest creatures;
• Think of a favorite song or tune and change the words to create your own special song, like Becker has done;
• In the back matter, learn about sea shanties, discover the highlighted monsters, and learn the music to sing along with Becker’s jaunty text;
• Check out these other resources and activities.

Why I Like this Book:

With fun-on-the-tongue phrases and a catchy refrain, Becker invites children and their adults to learn about fascinating mythological sea monsters and experience an exciting day on board a sailing ship.

I love how Becker pairs each monster with kid-relatable problems that the children aboard the ship solve. From a grumpy, cranky kraken who likes riddles and cakes from the griddle, to a “hangry”, five-headed hydra who craves fishes and plankton gravy that’s delicious, readers see how these resourceful sailors deal with issues that young listeners may be dealing with, too. And when it all gets to be too much and the sailors become grumpy, we discover that the monsters are ready to pitch in and return the favors.

Becker’s fast-paced text paired with Brundage’s bright illustrations make Monsters in the Briny a picture book that kids will pull off the shelf again and again.

A Note about Craft:

A sea shanty as the basis of a picture book? I have to admit that I never thought that a bawdy shanty about drunken sailors could be rendered suitable for all audiences. But Becker has managed it by adhering to the music and rhythm of the original while changing the text to create a story filled with mythical sea creatures, young sailors, and kid-relatable problems.

This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!