My Monster Moofy [Hardcover]

Fun with figures of speech Kirkus Starred Review -- Moofy, the monster who lives under the unnamed protagonists bed, is a complex creature of many, many talents.He has quick reflexes and is a master of disguise. Despite his fearsome, sword-sharp teeth, he can also be silly, resembling a rug more than a monster. Moofy also has a softer side. He loves to help make muffins, to read books, and to gaze at the moon. Moofys tendency to create chaos does not deter his adoring fans, who shower him with attention and high-fives. Moofy, it turns out, is not just any monster: He is the protagonists catand their best friend. The cleverly over-the-top text utilizes a variety of literary devices to describe Moofys colorful life and personality, organically and effectively introducing young children to concepts like metaphor, simile, alliteration, allusion, hyperbole, and rhyme. The protagonist is endearing, and their affectionate perspective renders Moofys antics delightful to behold. The lists and definitions of figures of speech (alliteration, metaphor, allusion, onomatopoeia, etc.) traditionally distributed in English classrooms have felt burdensome for generations, so one appreciates Watsons desire to enliven the lesson. Third or fourth graders, already deep into writing, may appreciate this book most. Humor and instruction are the watchwords with My Monster Moofy, an illustrated primer. Comic scenes show a girl and her fluffy pet monster exemplifying 17 literary devices. The pace is swift. As an adjunct to other reading, the book should help children develop some sensitivity to linguistic devices and be better able to notice them in the wild. If I gave out stars, this savvy picture book would get many stars. Besides being a humorously illustrated mystery about what sort of monster Moofy might be, it illustrates 17 literary devices  figures of speech  from simile and metaphor to paradox and pun. It's effectively a junior high grammar cheat sheet translated for fil”