That Night, a Monster…

Gr 2–4—This loving, surreal story from Polish author Sowa tackles unusual family situations with humor and unexpected twists. A young boy named Thomas is shocked to find that his mother has turned into a fern. He confides his thoughts and fears to his dog. He's less concerned about how this happened and more anxious about who will take him to school and make his apricot juice. His father doesn't seem to be worried, but what will their new family look like? Thomas's fern-mother still cares for him, knows how to prepare his juice, and bugs him to keep his fingernails clean, so maybe things aren't so bad after all. The narrative meanders a bit, although the ending is satisfying. Kolomycka's artwork is the standout here—her panels are painted and give the story a softness and richness that's uncommon in other graphic novels for young children.