Monty and the Mushrooms

December 9, 2024
“As everyone knows,” mushrooms—at least the ones that populate this picture book’s comically skewed, anthropomorphized forest—“are LOUD.” Lacking inside voices or any sense of boundaries, they argue and gossip, recite bad poetry, and sing “long, loud songs about how great it is to be a mushroom.” (“Even trees think mushrooms are noisy, and everyone knows how noisy trees are.”) Marmots, meanwhile, who also reside in the forest, can’t abide noise—“especially singing.” When a handful of mushrooms pops up around the entrance to Monty the marmot’s den, the animal politely lodges a complaint with the head mushroom, then vows to eat the fungi (a useless threat, since they’re poisonous). Finally, the marmot leaves in disgust, making room for new neighbors: banana slugs, which can’t hear but cheerfully declare, “We CAN eat
poisonous mushrooms.” Some readers may find this reveal unsettling; despite the cacophonous thoughtlessness, the mushrooms are kind of adorable in their incessant commentary and unbridled enthusiasm. But those who don’t mind nature-based-turnabout-as-fair-play will find the comic timing of Petty (Elmore the Christmas Moose) impeccable, and digital goofy cartooning by Chapman (Seals Are Jerks!) aptly captures the barely contained chaos of a forest on the brink. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

February 1, 2025
A boisterous bunch of fungi drive a peaceful marmot from his underground home. "As everyone knows, mushrooms are LOUD." Mushrooms "gossip all day and argue all night." They tell jokes and long stories and "sing long, loud songs about how great it is to be a mushroom." And when some mushroom spores blow over to Monty the marmot's home, they annoy the heck out of him. Delightful details in the illustrations show Monty's dedication to a quiet lifestyle: When readers first meet him, he's curled up with a blanket, readingThe Art of Putting Boats in Things, and later he works on a model boat. The friendly, oblivious mushrooms test his patience by putting on a raucous puppet show under the light of a full moon. Monty tries to talk to them ("Nature is all about communication"), but they're unable to provide even 10 seconds of respite. So Monty decides to move out...and in a laugh-out-loud twist ending, some new creatures move in. The layout includes full-bleed page spreads as well as comiclike panels, and one inventive 90-degree page turn. The noisy mushrooms are varied in appearance, with cartoonishly large grins; Monty's mounting frustration is evidenced by expressive eyebrows and motion lines. The rhyming song that the mushrooms sing is an especially funny touch, and readers will cheer as the fungi get their comeuppance at last. Certain to deliver giggles aplenty.(Picture book. 4-8)

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