  | Monster in the lake Author: Timmers, Leo | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
Eric the duck is nervous to swim in the lake for fear a monster might live there, but he bravely follows his friends and discovers something spectacular indeed lives beneath the surface.
| Illustrator: | Timmers, Leo |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (10/01/25)
School Library Journal (-) (06/01/25)
Booklist (+) (00/09/25)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 06/01/2025 PreS-Gr 2—Four ducks are ready for fun in a lake full of monsters—though only one of them seems to know it! When a duck hesitates to join the others, asking, "But what about the monster?" the friends insist there's nothing to worry about. Each spread offers a clever above-and-below-the-water view, building suspense as fish and frogs give way to something bigger. Just as the ducks confidently declare "TRUST US," a huge monster appears; one duck is pulled underwater, only to return and claim again that there's no such thing as a monster. Whether this is denial or a misunderstanding is never fully explained. A silly tone and expressive illustrations bring energy to the pages, but the unclear resolution leaves readers guessing. VERDICT A visually engaging story with playful elements, but the confusing message and weak plot make it a lower priority for library collections.—Kirsten Caldwell - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Other - 06/02/2025 Eric, a cautious mallard, resists joining three duck friends for a lake paddle. The bird has heard there’s a monster lurking in the waters, and he hangs back even when the pals offer blithe reassurance-"Trust us!" But readers, who can see both above and below the lake’s waterline, will note that the murky, bubbly green depths-rendered in a m?lange of acrylic paint and aerosol spray-indeed reveal a large bona fide monster with horns, yellow stalk eyes, and a heap of big white teeth. Is Eric a sitting duck? Hardly: The nattily accessorized behemoth tips a red top hat to Eric and escorts the bird deep beneath the surface to a city flourishing on the lake bed. In a spectacular double gatefold, Timmers (Bear’s Lost Glasses) reveals this hopping metropolis with his signature maximalist flair-it’s bursting with monsters of every shape, color, fashion sense, and eyeball count. Eric takes to the setting like, well, a duck to water, and when he surfaces, he’s a considerably more confident bird. Children who get their hands on this oversize, glossy delight, filled with made-to-linger details, will be lucky ducks indeed. Ages 4-6. (Sept.) - Copyright 2025
