Mostly Monsterly

The familiar saga of a child who doesn't fit the norm is given a twist in this story about monster Bernadette, who looks the part and "caused mayhem of all kinds," but who also has a penchant for flowers, kittens, and group hugs. Bernadette's classmates are horrified by her cutesy tendencies—even rejecting her offering of cupcakes because they'd rather have bug parts or fried snail goo. By book's end, Bernadette conforms to expectations, while indulging her giving spirit, by making each classmate a gross card ("eeny, meeny, miney, mo. this clipping's from my pinky toe!"). Despite her ingenuity, readers may be more drawn to her outlandish classmates. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)