The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Dixon, Amy

Maurice the Unbeastly

32 pp. | Sterling | September, 2017 | Trade ISBN 978-1-4549-1953-7 $16.95

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Karl James Mountford. "Maurice was not like the other Beasts." The well-mannered, smiley vegetarian is sent to the Abominable Academy for Brutish Beasts, where Maurice's differences save the day from an infiltrating "creature" (a puppy) and even spark progressive changes ("He led a campaign to add kale to the lunch menu," etc.). Illustrated with more-cute-than-frightening mixed-media art, the lighthearted story conveys its you-be-you message without didacticism.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers