Gnarbunga

by Matthew Bromley

When a creature is made from icky, sticky sludge--and gets that sludge all over everyone--how can he ever make friends? Gnarbunga pops up from a mucky hole in the ground, and he's very, very messy. The children love it, but the grownups don't. So the kids decide to help Gnarbunga find something to do to keep him busy…and what could be better than skateboarding! A fresh and lively young picture book with a fun story and exuberant illustrations. 

Genres: Picture Books, Sports, Monsters

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2012

Reviews

[Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm very confused by this book. What's the moral? Be polite? Sludge is bad? Sludge is good? Everyone needs a hobby? What is happening?

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Age: Preschool (small amount of text) - 1st grade (due to subject interest)

Hmmm...Very eye-catching graphics with a lot of white space which is great for a younger age, but how many infants and toddlers enjoy skateboarding?

The storyline is horrendous and detracts from the book as a whole. Half of the book is not related to the second half. It seems like it's trying too hard to cater to the kids with low reading interests.

There were a few things I enjoyed and that interested skateboarding kids would enjoy. When Gnarbunga chooses skateboarding as his hobby, I liked the pages where he selects his equipment. I also like the trick name-dropping.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

no one fws gnarbunga like i do
you just don't get it

[Jereme Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of stuff with the kids that has some greater message for how to be a better person as you grow blah, blah, blah. Sometimes you just want to see a icky, sticky, sludge creature kick flip over a cat.

[Robert Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps the best kids picture I read this year.

[Jj · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. I wanted to like it (monster! skateboarding! bold illustrations! yes!), but it failed in a big way. The story itself was terrible, and the writing inexcusably poor. I can't think of anyone to recommend this to, especially not a child or anyone who is learning English. A disappointing effort overall.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book walked that very fine line of stupid and funny, and came out in Funny Town! The pictures are horrible, the story line is just strange.... but I still really enjoyed it; kids will too. Some books should just be funny for the sake of being funny.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable! A giant sticky monster who loves skateboarding. The illustration style is awesome too.

[Sfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great! my kids absolutely loved it, and so did I! The illustrations slabs characters are really nice and fun, this is fast becoming a favourite in our house.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

A limited number of young skateboard fans might find this interesting. However, it rather a flat and boring story with blah illustrations.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is inspirational, but it ruined our science club! But it is a funny book! ( For children) no offense to anyone.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you have little ones who like skateboarding, this book is great. Otherwise, it's not very exciting.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gnarbunga...an awesome creature who appeared from a mucky, messy hole in the found...made from icky, sticky sludge which he inadvertently gets on people...very fun book GNARBUNGA!!

[Mollie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I liked that the kids started a new hobby, but it was meh