School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-McLellan's playful, heartwarming story about a cuddly monster family examines how birth order affects sibling relationships. As the youngest, Tweezle is coddled by Mom and Dad, who call him their "sweet baby." Tweezle repeats the phrase, "I'm not baby.I big boy!" throughout the story, as he tries prove to his older siblings, Hoogie and Pumpkin, that he is just like them. Tweezle attempts to make pancakes, wash dishes, and help with the garden. Onomatopoeic words ("splash and a crash/blam and a slam") mimic the chaos that follows poor Tweezle as he attempts to win his siblings' acceptance. When he rescues a baby bird, the family celebrates Tweezle's good deed, acknowledging that is was a "big" deal for such a "big" guy. Bright colored pencil and watercolor illustrations adorn each spread, while a soft-hued palette adds calmness. Expansive white space allows readers to appreciate details in the facial expressions. A great addition to both school and public libraries that help teach sibling acceptance and understanding.-Krista Welz, North Bergen High School, NJ (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Tweezle is tired of being the baby monster of the family. He's a big boy nowand has some not-so-helpful ways of showing it! McLellan and Griffiths' previous work, Hoogie in the Middle (2013), had middle monster Hoogie feeling invisible and frustrated. Now Tweezle takes a stand against his birth order. Everyone calls him "little," but he wants to do something BIG. He tries to help in the kitchen, but the dishes crash to the floor. He tries to help outdoors, but he ends up knocking everything over in the shed. His sisters shout at him: "You're the lint at the bottom of my pocket!" and "The mud on the bottom of my sneakers!" After this, little Tweezle mysteriously goes missing. His family finds him helping a baby bird that has fallen from the nest. Tweezle has had a big idea after all. Although furry, green and whiskered, Tweezle shares many commonalities with toddlers who are gaining independence. Older siblings in particular will recognize the ways Tweezle's good intentions sometimes work against him. Though not startlingly insightful or original, this tale about an endearing monster family spotlights some very real moments of childhood growth. (Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
