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Holtsclaw, Josh , Holtsclaw, Monica

Felix and the Monsters

32 pp. | Penguin/Paulsen | September, 2020 | Trade ISBN 978-0-593-11052-2 $17.99 | Ebook ISBN 978-0-593-11053-9 $10.99
(2) K-3 Felix, a blue-furred, purple-clad creature with wiry arms and legs, serves as a guard against the horrible monsters on the other side of the wall, just as guards have always done. While other guards stand with weapons, Felix holds a keytar and dreams of forming a band. One day, he plays a tune on his instrument--morosely, since "there's nothing sadder than a keytar player without a band"--when he hears something new. A little red monster stands atop the wall with a bass guitar of her own! Dot invites Felix to join her on the other side, where Felix makes a striking discovery: the monsters are kind, creative, and not horrible at all. His once stark, sharp-cornered, monochromatic world has been left behind for a landscape of colors, flowers, and curvilinear trees. He plays music with his new friends and finds that he feels "more at home than ever before." An angry, protective group of guards jumps the wall, ready to fight the monsters, but Felix and Dot's music transforms a potential attack into a groovy dance party. When the guards realize there wasn't much to be guarded after all, the two sides team up to dismantle what once separated them. The soft palette and expressive faces of the characters make for a warm and inviting adventure into the unknown, and the immersive double-page spreads place readers in the midst of the action--even providing a seat to enjoy a final performance. A joyful reminder of the power of breaking down barriers and banding together--keytar in hand or not.
Reviewer: Grace McKinney | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

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