Monsters
Otto lives in a village beyond which lies only darkness. Rarely does anyone brave the treacherous trail that leads there. However, one day Otto is awakened by the rumble of vast beasts drawing wagons belonging to the Circus of Dreams. Boasting performances to delight and thrill, the circus’s crowning glory promises to unveil a Monster of Dreams. Intrigued, everyone rushes to see it.
When the black curtain opens, revealing a human child, a boy Otto’s age, the whole village, Otto included, are aghast, terrified to even approach such a monster – but why? Only then do we realise that Otto and the villagers are the ones bearing grotesque features and nightmarish expressions. But we also learn that the boy’s sweet singing is capable of reaching even the hardest of hearts. As the story unfolds, we can only hope the developing friendship between Otto and the boy will illuminate the darkness of fear and prejudice. This is a powerful story, richly illustrated with haunting depictions of characters and scenes so full of atmosphere they will linger long in the imagination. Dreamlike in its blend of narrative and intense, detailed images, the book is an artful marriage of picture and text.
Superbly sustained from start to finish, Monsters is a sophisticated exploration of unconscious and conscious bias. In a world where strangers can be so casually, and all too frequently othered, this thought-provoking book could not be more timely for young minds. Strange, unsettling and yet beautiful, this is a vital children’s read.
