Melvin: The Luckiest Monkey in the World

No two ways about it: Melvin is a “glass half empty” kind of monkey. When Melvin’s friend Pete, a green penguin, finds him munching on a carrot in town, Melvin explains that he’s doing so because he’s out of bananas. “It’s always my unlucky day,” he moans. “I am the unluckiest monkey in the world!” Pete works hard to show Melvin that it’s not all that bad, but the scarf-wearing blue monkey isn’t having it. When a girl at the zoo wants to take her photo with him, he wonders, “Is it because I look silly?” When a friendly Weimaraner licks him, Melvin throws up his hands: “This puppy is trying to kill me!” Eventually, Pete has had enough—luckily, Boldt plays Melvin’s pessimism for laughs, so readers shouldn’t feel the same—but his final attempt to do a good turn for Melvin pays off. Working in a palette of creamy pastel colors, Boldt (Odd Dog) creates charming city scenes filled with adorable boutiques and markets bursting with produce and fish—just one more thing Melvin takes for granted. Ages 3–5. (June)