Don't Squish the Sasquatch!

by Kent Redeker, Bob Staake (Illustrator)

When Senor Sasquatch boards the bus, he makes one thing perfectly clear to he doesn’t like to be squished. But as the bus travels along its route, other passengers get on--like Miss Elephant Shark, Mr. Octo-Rhino and Miss Whale Goat! Soon senor Sasquatch finds himself at risk...of being squished!Book HardcoverPublication 6/19/2012 40Reading Age 1 and Up

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Monsters, Humor, Childrens, Fiction, Transport

40 pages, Hardcover

First published June 19, 2012

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disregard the stars! I have no idea how to rate this pictrue book in a traditional sense.

Here are some other ratings that might be more helpful:

Oddness: 5 stars
Illustrations: 4 stars
Creative Character Names: 5 stars
Monster Kisses: 4 stars
Read-aloud-ability: 3 stars
Uncomfortableness: 4 stars
Silliness: 4 stars
Ridiculousness: 4 stars
Sensibleness: 2 stars
Endpapers: 5 stars

Let's read it to the kids, and see what they think, shall we?

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun book in a simplified 1950's-esque cartoon/animation style (to my eye, at least).

The title grabbed me and reading it to my 2.5 year old was loads of fun. He's been wandering the house for days giggling and yelling "Don't squish the sasquatch!" And that is all I need to recommend this book highly.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

What sort of Crazytown is this when a sasquatch is the most normal passenger on the bus?

Bob Staake's wacky and colorful illustrations are the main reason to pay the fare and take a ride with this book.

[April Thompson Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the characters and the illustrations, but didn't care for the storyline much.

[Emily]

If you want a kid's book that talks about violating personal space, then this book is for you.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly, but fun. Adorable illustrations, but the plot thinks it's a bit funnier than it actually is. Would make for a fun read-aloud, though.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sasquatch does not want to get squished on the back of the bus, but he inevitably does when all of the other creatures get on the bus with him. It is funny, predictable, and repetitive, a fun read for groups large to small.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as funny as it's trying to be. There's nothing wrong with this book....it's odd cute with a unique illustration style...but it winds up being more confusing than funny. Just get Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus instead.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this two stars, but believing the young readers would get a serious kick out of it, It gest 3 from me. The art is silly and fun, the made-up animals will delight, and the building up anticipation of the big-time squish will engage. I didn't really get the Ka-Blooey center fold, but the final page that leaves the reader with an uh-oh feeling is fun. This could be good for a hug-themed storytime.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you know what happens when you accidentally squish a Sasquatch? Well until this book I didn’t either. But buses can get kind of crazy, and when Sasquatch gets squished, it will take all the riders to smooch him back again. A fun book perfect for bedtime.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit on the bizarre side, this one will still make a great read aloud. The illustrations are bright and clear and funny. Get all your listeners to shake their fingers and chant, "Don't squish the Sasquatch!" when each new passenger gets on the bus to ramp up the fun. A great group read aloud!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of cutesy. The Sasquatch gets on the bus and does not want to be squished. But the cast of silly animals keep getting on the bus, leaving Sasquatch squished. I liked the pool one better, but this one was pretty good.

[Seema Rao · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book feels so mass-produced and not super charming. But worth a quick read.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bizzaro mash up of creatures.

[Amanda Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read for a primary independent reader. Laughs and fun.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sasquatch is the least ridiculous animal in the book. Mildly entertaining.

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sasquatch does not like to be crowded

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable. Really fun creatures.

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, strange, got a green character, cute. 22 month old not as into this book as the other green themed books I picked out, maybe because it was too weird?

[Brystal Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characters and illustration were very cute story was okay.

[jedioffsidetrap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute & very trippy— strange hybrid animals board the bus & it gets weird in the best possible way…

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can you not read this title out loud without suppressing a giggle? That alone makes this a very good choice for a read aloud at bed time or at a story time setting.

Really-say it with me right now, out loud, "DON'T SQUISH THE SASQUATCH!"

And again....

Don't you feel happy already? Right?

I love Bob Staake. His style so speaks to me here. The quirk cup just runneth over on this one.

We all know kids love to sing The Wheels on the Bus. Well, here is a picture book that can be just as funny as the beloved song! A bus, silly monster animal things, and hugs and kisses. LOVE.

Kids will giggle at the mix match monster-animal creations Staake provides as Senor Sasquatch fellow bus riders. I know I would never have fathomed just how a creature called an Octo-Rhino would look like in my wildest dreams, but I am ever so grateful for Bob Staake for making it happen. Brilliant!

Scenery shout out's to NYC are throughout as the bus ride progresses along from a more suburban country setting into the big city. Look out for "Sordi's" near the theater district, The Guggenheim and a very Empire Statuesque looking sky scraper, as well as visuals reminiscent of Ren & Stimpy. I can't quite tell if the Victorian looking mansion on one page is more Adam's Family or Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, what with the silly monster mash up's happening here.

And now I have a new picture book crush on the author and his co-creator, Kent Redeker (who has previously written for Veggie Tales & Special Agent Oso on Disney Jr). Young ones will love joining in on repeating the title & book's catch phrase, just as we both did together at the start of my review.

Now go and get this book at your local indie book shop or public library and read it aloud with a kid that you love, and giggle your way through it together!

[Paul Hankins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inventive characters from Kent Redeker, but what makes this book for me is the imaginative renderings of Bob Staake. The sasquatch's arms stretch delightfully to span the open pages and legs have to bend at odd angles to accommodate sitting. The first page depicting sasquatch sitting on a bench awaiting the bus is classic Staake, with arms and legs trying their best to achieve normalcy by bending and squashing. Staake never misses a detail and in this illustration, a little brown hat tops the main character's head to go with the business-like red bow tie.

Advertisements on the bus wall allow Staake to really stretch out his gift for imaginative design (and the donut reference will not be missed by his fans).

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the opening lines of: "Hello, Mr. Blobule! May I please ride your bus?" I knew I was in for a book of unsurpassed silliness. Don't Squish the Sasquatch is a simple, repetitive, ridiculous, and, therefore, completely brilliant book for beginning readers. And if the repetition starts to get to you as an adult, just look over the child's shoulder to see the equally ridiculous (and, therefore, completely brilliant) illustrations.

I don't know a whole lot about the publishing of children's books, but I think normally a book is written and then the illustrator is found. In this case, however, I tend to think that Kent Redeker knew that Bob Staake would be illustrating his book as he was writing it. I can't think of anyone better suited for bringing Mr. Octo-Rhino to life.

[Jamie Swenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book last week in storytime with Twos and Threes - it was our Valentine theme storytime - so of course, I had to use Senor Sasquatch - who does not like to be squished but who LOVES to be SMOOCHED! This book is so very silly - had the adults laughing too. The repetitive line: Don't squish the sasquatch - allows great audience participation - and it's perfect early literacy: phonological awareness, print motivation, print awareness - you name it - the Squatch has it. Enjoyable. Use with 2 & Up (my co-worker took it home to read to her middle school & high school kids because it's such a funny book).

[Elia · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when you squish a Sasquatch? Well, he goes kablooey of course! But fear not, because if you make out with him, he perks right back up.
Bright illustrations and silly critters will appeal to younger kids, though the vocabulary will be though for those who are beginning to read (sasquatch, blobule, and loch aren't exactly common words). Still, it's a silly and fun good-time read aloud and the silly characters (a space alien Loch Ness monster and an elephant shark among them) will be a hit. Thubs and tentacles up!

[Amanda Izard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This delightful children’s book would be a welcome addition to any shelf. The graphics are bright and colorful and the text is fun to read aloud. Both children and adults will giggle at the inevitable “squishing” when the Sasquatch boards the city bus – along with a gaggle of big, hybrid animals, including an elephant shark, a octo-rhino, a goat-whale, and a loch-ness-monster-space-alien.

Perfect for a lesson on the letter “S” or prediction of a storyline, “Don’t Squish the Sasquatch” is a surefire success!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable story with great pictures that will delight even the most jaded picture book reader. The creatures look like things kids would come up with and the over all message is sweet. The title becomes the repeatable phrase that will have children gleefully hollering it out each time they hear this new story. If your kids are pigeon fans, they will love this book.

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Age: preschool - kindergarten

Although Sasquatch doesn't look much like Sasquatch, and you're left wondering why everything blows up when Sasquatch finally gets squished, there are some redeeming qualities. The characters are fun to look at and the growing irateness of Sasquatch is fun to watch. Such an odd book, it's cute.

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun book! I've read it to a preschool class and they loved it. I read it aloud at a Halloween event and parents, non-parents, grandparents and all the children loved it.
Basically, a sasquatch gets on a bus and asks not to be squished, but you know what happens. This makes for some quality audience interaction and reaction.