It’s not often that products marketed toward young children prominently feature actual monsters, so Andi Green’s WorryWoo Monsters is definitely something to celebrate. Parents and children alike can find much to love in this series of books and their accompanying plush monster dolls.

Originally conceived as an art project in 2001, the WorryWoos expanded to a line of storybooks and dolls in 2007. To date, four plush monsters and three storybooks have been released, with more coming later this year. Each monster is designed to convey a specific emotion, with the corresponding book telling how the creature overcomes its fear and becomes more engaged with the world around it. The series was designed to “openly discuss emotions and not candy-coat feelings”—a goal it admirably achieves.

In THE MONSTER IN THE BUBBLE, the reader is introduced to Squeek, an adorable pink monster who never strays from the safety of his bubble, dreaming of all the things he could do if he could just find the courage to step out into the world. After a little nudge from a special someone, Squeek does just that, with laudable results. It’s a remarkably frank story and a great lesson for a child, wrapped up in an adorable and uniquely styled package. The books visually call to mind WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE in particular, yet retain their own unique design.

The plush dolls accompanying the storybooks are nicely sized, perfect for young ones to hug and are very solidly constructed. While there will certainly be some youngsters who put the stress limits to the test, WorryWoo Monsters should stand up to many years of play and cuddling while acting out the many adventures young ones so often embark upon. The characters themselves are delightfully colorful and interesting, as suitable for display as for play.

WorryWoo Monsters have already received significant acclaim from several parenting and toy/media groups, and they’re wholeheartedly recommended for those parents who frequnt this site as well. Little ones will certainly enjoy both the stories and the dolls, and the fact that every book teaches a valuable moral as well doesn’t hurt. Anyone with a special little someone in their life would do well to hunt down a WorryWoo of their own. See the official website here.

 

Fangoria - Monster Times