♦ Bókadómar. Í síðustu tveimur tölublöðum af Bookbird: a Journal of International Children’s Literature er að finna dóma um spænsku þýðingarnar af bókunum Nei! sagði litla skrímslið og Stór skrímsli gráta ekki. Í tímaritinu hefur áður birst bókadómur um skrímslin tvö og var þá Skrímsli á toppnum til umfjöllunar. Dómarnir um skrímslabækurnar þrjár eru á ensku og má lesa hér neðar á síðunni.

Bookbird er gefið út af IBBY, International Board on Books for Young People og Johns Hopkins University Press. Hér má finna eldri árganga tímaritsins, allt frá árinu 1963.

♦ Book reviews. In the last two issues of Bookbird: a Journal of International Children’s Literature there are nice reviews of the Spanish editions of the first two books in the Monster series: ¡No!, dijo el pequeño monstruo and Los monstruos grandes no lloran. A review of Monster at the Top has been published earlier. Bookbird is an academic journal that publishes articles on children’s literature with an international perspective. It is published jointly by the Johns Hopkins University Press on behalf of the International Board on Books for Young People. Other links: Online archive. Online access.

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“No!” said the Little Monster
Text: Áslaug Jónsdóttir, Rakel Helmsdal, Kalle Güettler. Illustrations: Áslaug Jónsdóttir.

“With vivid and emotionally evocative illustrations, “No!”, said the Little Monster brings to life the struggle between staying silent when a friend does something wrong, or speaking up and risking the friendship. When the big monster comes over to play, the little monster runs through a list of all the times in the past when his friend has caused damage or hurt others’ feelings and the little monster hadn’t dared to say anything. The litany of past frustrations gives him the courage to say “No!” this time, prompting an unexpected reaction from his friend. The importance of speaking up is portrayed with just the right mix of humor and seriousness, in a way that both children and adults can enjoy. As a part of a larger series, including a companion book called Big Monsters Don’t Cry, it also shows the different perspectives inside a friendship and how one situation can be perceived very differently. This book can be a starting place for a conversation about why friends might do things that feel hurtful and how important it is to speak up for core values, reinforcing that conflict can even strengthen friendships.”
– Deena Hinshaw. Bookbird: A Journal of International Children’s Literature Volume 51, Number 4, October 2013

Big Monsters Don’t Cry 
Text: Áslaug Jónsdóttir, Rakel Helmsdal, Kalle Güettler. Illustrations: Áslaug Jónsdóttir.

“Los monstruos grandes no lloran goes to the heart of childhood insecurities in competition with friends. The pressure felt by the character of the big monster, who feels inadequate whenever he plays with his friend the little monster, is the dual burden of being unable to measure up to his friend’s abilities coupled with the conviction that he must not reveal his feelings of inadequacy. When he is brought to the breaking point by the little monster’s laughter at the actions of his father, he finds out that his tears are an opening to discussing his real feelings with his friend. Not only does this prompt a deepening of the friendship, but also an opportunity for the little monster to share some of the things he admires about the big monster, and a chance for the big monster to teach skills he possesses. The bold illustrations convey the emotions behind the story and bring the words to life. As a part of larger series, including a companion book called “No! Said the Little Monster”, it also shows the different perspectives inside a friendship and the way that the same situation can be perceived very differently by the individuals involved. This book is an entertaining way to raise topics of conversation with children related to self-judgment and expressing emotions of vulnerability.”
– Deena Hinshaw. Bookbird: A Journal of International Children’s Literature Volume 51, Number 2, April 2013