Picture Day at Ghoulington Academy is fast approaching, and Itty Bitty Betty Blob is feeling frustrated at her inability to strike the perfect photo-ready pose.
The problem? In a world where cantankerousness is celebrated and scariness reigns supreme, Betty is an outlier: a smiley, bright pink monster who’s more sweet than scary. To her classmates’ irritation and teachers’ consternation, “While typical monsters stomped in storms, Betty rejoiced at rainbows,” and, even worse, “During Chorus, her GRRRs turned into GRRRA-LA-LAAAs!”
In an effort to ease Betty’s nervous anticipation, her supportive mom gives her a fashionable yet frightful gown to wear, but Betty can’t help fretting as she follows the winding forest path to school on the big day. After all, she knows that her mom was just being nice when she lovingly said Betty looked “Positively putrid!”
Everything changes when a tiny adorable pink puff appears, beckoning Betty deeper into the woods to a “place as bright on the outside as she felt on the inside.” The multicolored oasis is populated by puffs of many hues, all of them eager to make Betty’s dress reflect who she really is via an exuberant makeover montage rivaling those in big-screen rom-coms. But what will happen when Betty arrives at school wearing a veritable bouquet of beautiful, brightly colored flowers (not to mention a gaggle of puffs that hitched a ride)?
Constance Lombardo’s straightforward, sweetly witty prose will have readers rooting for Betty as well as nervously holding their breath on her behalf when she finally dares to embrace being different. And Micah Player’s boldly drawn, emotion-infused illustrations expertly embody everything from Ghoulington Academy’s imposing gothic architecture to the puffs’ extreme cuteness and slightly manic energy. There are lots of fun little details for itty bitty bibliophiles to discover upon rereads, too.
Itty Bitty Betty Blob’s nicely balanced combination of humor, emotion and inspiration (plus plenty of monster appreciation) makes it an absolute treat of a read—a warm and wonderful reminder to celebrate our differences and dare to share our joy with others.
