Before Gargantua Junior was born, Mom had a reputation for being a little wild. Now she prefers to repair damage and protect the Earth from invaders — and Gargantua Junior wants to help!
Gargantua (Jr!) wants to grow up to be just like Mom. Before Junior came along, Mom had a reputation for being a little wild, but now she only knocks over buildings that are supposed to come down. She also protects Earth from dangerous space robots and giant asteroids. Gargantua (Jr!) would like to help out, but Mom says, “You’re too little.” So Junior sets out to prove that she’s wrong …
Making amends for past mistakes, giving back to the community, learning one’s limits and teamwork all come into play in this story about a mom and her baby monster, vibrantly written and illustrated by Kevin Sylvester.
Key Text Features
speech bubbles
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.6
Compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated, including the difference between first- and third-person narrations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7
Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).
Before Gargantua Junior was born, Mom had a reputation for being a little wild. Now she prefers to repair damage and protect the Earth from invaders — and Gargantua Junior wants to help!
Gargantua (Jr!) wants to grow up to be just like Mom. Before Junior came along, Mom had a reputation for being a little wild, but now she only knocks over buildings that are supposed to come down. She also protects Earth from dangerous space robots and giant asteroids. Gargantua (Jr!) would like to help out, but Mom says, “You’re too little.” So Junior sets out to prove that she’s wrong …
Making amends for past mistakes, giving back to the community, learning one’s limits and teamwork all come into play in this story about a mom and her baby monster, vibrantly written and illustrated by Kevin Sylvester.
Key Text Features
speech bubbles
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.6
Compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated, including the difference between first- and third-person narrations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7
Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Apr 1, 2019 |
| Specifications | 40 pages | 9.875 in x 9.25 in |
| Keywords | growing up; independent; role model; humorous stories; family and family issues; parents and children; parenting; godzilla; science fiction and fantasy; humor; humour; cooperation; helpfulness; responsibility; first person narration; determining importance; Common Core aligned; CC Literature Craft and Structure; CC Literature Integration of Knowledge and Ideas; grade 4; grade 5; Kirkus starred review; Quill & Quire starred review; picture book; speech bubbles; |
| Written By |
KEVIN SYLVESTER is an award-winning illustrator, writer and broadcaster whose work ranges from murder mysteries and science fiction to books on sports and financial literacy. His picture books include Splinters (a Blue Spruce Honour Book) and Super-Duper Monster Viewer. Kevin’s Neil Flambé Capers series and MINRs series have both been bestsellers. His latest novel is Mucus Mayhem. His non-fiction titles include Follow Your Money, Follow Your Stuff, Baseballogy and Basketballogy. Kevin lives with his family in Toronto. |
| Illustrated by |
KEVIN SYLVESTER is an award-winning illustrator, writer and broadcaster whose work ranges from murder mysteries and science fiction to books on sports and financial literacy. His picture books include Splinters (a Blue Spruce Honour Book) and Super-Duper Monster Viewer. Kevin’s Neil Flambé Capers series and MINRs series have both been bestsellers. His latest novel is Mucus Mayhem. His non-fiction titles include Follow Your Money, Follow Your Stuff, Baseballogy and Basketballogy. Kevin lives with his family in Toronto. |
| Written By |
|
KEVIN SYLVESTER is an award-winning illustrator, writer and broadcaster whose work ranges from murder mysteries and science fiction to books on sports and financial literacy. His picture books include Splinters (a Blue Spruce Honour Book) and Super-Duper Monster Viewer. Kevin’s Neil Flambé Capers series and MINRs series have both been bestsellers. His latest novel is Mucus Mayhem. His non-fiction titles include Follow Your Money, Follow Your Stuff, Baseballogy and Basketballogy. Kevin lives with his family in Toronto. |
| Illustrated by |
|
KEVIN SYLVESTER is an award-winning illustrator, writer and broadcaster whose work ranges from murder mysteries and science fiction to books on sports and financial literacy. His picture books include Splinters (a Blue Spruce Honour Book) and Super-Duper Monster Viewer. Kevin’s Neil Flambé Capers series and MINRs series have both been bestsellers. His latest novel is Mucus Mayhem. His non-fiction titles include Follow Your Money, Follow Your Stuff, Baseballogy and Basketballogy. Kevin lives with his family in Toronto. |
| Audience | ages 4 to 7 / grades K to 2 |
| Reading Levels |
Lexile AD480L
Guided Reading L Fountas & Pinnel Text Level L |
| Key Text Features | speech bubbles |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.6
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7 |
“[T]errific fun. Parenting skills come in handy even for immense, green, fire-breathing monsters.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Sylvester’s story is simple and sweet . . . . Matching Sylvester’s note-perfect storytelling are his bold and fun illustrations. These are the kind of drawings of creatures and chaos that will appeal to future comic-book lovers, while also providing the kind of personality, warmth, and humour that resonates with readers of all ages and ilk.” —Quill & Quire