WorryWoos are so TODAY

OWTK has been covering the WorryWoos from the start (hi Nola!).   You remember, those adorable, beautifully illustrated books and snuggly plush monsters of emotion?  

Today the world, or at least those who watch morning TV, discovered 'em too.  

The WorryWoo Monsters were featured on NBC's The Today Show (holy cow!) this morning.  The nation saw Squeek and Rue, heard about The Monster in the Bubble Book and learned a bit about the idea behind the Woos.  

Watch the NBC Today Show Unique Toys for Kids segment featuring the WorryWoo Monsters here.

Check out all the WorryWoo coverage here on OWTK, including my interview with WorryWoo author/illustrator Andi Green.

The Monster in the Bubble

The Monster in the Bubble is the 3rd and finest installment in the WorryWoo Monster series of books by New Jersey author and illustrator Andi Green.

The series is centered around emotions - Nola is lonely, Rue is insecure and Squeek, the pink hero of The Monster in the Bubble, well, he's locked himself inside a comfort zone.  He (that's right, a boy who's pink - gasp!) shares tendencies with many of us - whether it's something huge like being afraid to chase down a dream or something everyday-ish like frequenting chain restaurants to avoid the risk of the unknown and a potential bad meal (instead, we settle for a mediocre one we're familiar with).  Sometimes, we all need a push to try new things and strive for greatness - Squeek is no different.

The beauty of Ms. Green's writing is the simplicity in which the message is delivered.  Never feeling preachy or even remotely coming off as high and mighty, she conveys some basic humanity through her adorable Worrywoo Monsters and their engaging stories.  Monster in the Bubble, like the two previous books in the series, features breathtaking watercolor illustrations that my young girls simply fawn over, the books (and the plush dolls) are certainly easy on the eyes, and text that sounds great read aloud.

What sets this new book apart is the bubble itself, the additional character that is capable of moving the plot in a fascinating direction.  It's the bubble that realizes Squeek's self-imposed limitations and, as a result, it's the bubble that makes the difficult decision that forces Squeek to confront his fears of a new life lived with risk but also one filled with adventure and new experiences.  It's a clever trick - giving life to the bubble - one that pays huge dividends in the heart-tugging department. 



With the holidays coming up, I really cannot recommend The Monster in the Bubble enough for families with kids in the 3-7 age range.  Buy the book and the doll and expose a child to a lovely read and introduce them to an awesome collection of friendly, cute monsters who help make sense of the emotions we sometimes struggle to understand.



*California/Nevada readers take note: WorryWoo author/illustrator Andi Green is doing a series of readings, in numerous cities in those 2 states.  The readings began yesterday (11/6) and continue through November 15th.  Check out her schedule here and then go hear The Monster in the Bubble and pick up a signed 1st edition copy of the book.


"The Monster in the Bubble" was provided to OWTK for review. The opinions expressed above are unbiased and true - no arm twisting took place in the review process.

Squeek Party!

While the kindie music world is converging on Austin, Texas this weekend, OWTK will be rockin' out in rainy Hoboken, New Jersey.

This afternoon is the launch party for the newest WorryWoo Monster SQUEEK!

The Best Trailer for a Book Ever

He is Bold. He is Pink...and he is here! We're giddy about the arrival of Squeek, the latest WorryWoo Monster to get the book treatment.

Check out this amazing video for The Monster in the Bubble. Then head over to the WorryWoo website and pick up a copy. If you're in the NY/NJ/PA/CT area, stop by the W Hotel in Hoboken on October 3rd for The Monster in the Bubble Launch Party!

WorryWoo Monsters - Meet Rue!

Almost a year ago OWTK devoted a full week (named, cleverly enough, WorryWoo Week) to the WorryWoo Monsters, a new series of independently published books and original dolls from the creative mastermind Andi Green. I ended that week with a teasing sneak peek at Rue and now...

...I'm honored to officially introduce you to him. So without further delay, here is Rue, the Monster of Insecurity.

The new book, entitled The Nose That Didn't Fit, is 30% longer than The Lonely Little Monster, clocking in at a healthy 88 pages - each filled with breathtakingly illustrated scenes of lovely sunrises, flowers and brilliant purple/pink/blue skies.

As much as I love The Lonely Little Monster, this new book is superior. That comment alone sent the Bear into a tizzy. Seems she is very protective of Nola and took my gushing praise of The Nose That Didn't Fit as a personal attack on a best friend. Nola should hold her head up high, The Lonely Little Monster has stood up over the course of the past year and is still outstanding in it's own right. But Rue's book is stronger. This is because Rue's story is more dynamic, and in the end, more powerful for all readers - young and old. In Rue's tale there are two "co-star" characters with prominent speaking parts, whereas Nola, do to the nature of her lonely story, was literally on an island for 95% of her tale. Rue, in contrast, interacts with a wizard and a cute large-nosed girl monster all throughout The Nose That Didn't Fit. It's also pretty funny: there's an inchworm who charges $.50 for nose measurements, a WorryWoo self-help book and a lima bean rainstorm. The result is a terrifically engaging ode to insecurity and the overwhelming joy of loving one's self (warts, or big-snout, and all!)

The Bear has now taken Nola, Rue and both of their books into school for show-n-tell and both the teachers and her classmates fawned over the stories and the cuddly, unique dolls. One teacher remarked she was secretly hoping someone would buy her some WorryWoo stuff as a Christmas present, after she perused the WorryWoo website earlier last month. The impressive emotional power of the Woos will captivate children and is certainly not lost on adults.

The WorryWoo Series comes with my highest possible recommendation. The Nose That Didn't Fit and the rest of the WorryWoos would make a fantastically original kid's birthday party gift. While only the first two books have been released thus far, a total of 4 WorryWoo stuffed dolls can be purchased (and the other two are equally as charming) right now.

Visit the new WorryWoos.com and the snazzy new WorryWoo Online Store. Check out the new plush monsters and the stylish wall art featuring all the WorryWoos!


OWTK & WorryWoo Rue Signed 1st Edition Book/Doll Set Giveaway!

I'm very pleased to be able to give away two (2) Rue Book and Doll Sets to a couple of lucky OWTK readers. Simply click here and then leave a comment at the bottom of this post with a name of one of the WorryWoo Monsters not named Nola or Rue. Do so by 11:59pm (ET) on Friday January 23rd 2009 and you will have a chance to take home Rue - the doll - and a 1st edition book signed by Andi Green!

WorryWoo Week Continues - A Sneak Peak at Rue

WorryWoo Week is coming to an end. It's been a fun 5 days on OWTK. Thanks for spending it with us. Today, we take a look at Rue, the Monster of Insecurity. His book and doll are to be ready by mid-summer/fall of 2008.








To celebrate the conclusion of WorryWoo Week on OWTK, Andi Green has provided an exclusive sneak peek at Rue, including a page from the next book, and a picture of a very Muppets-Animalesque Rue Doll (which looks even cuter than Nola, if that possible).




Look at how fantastic the art looks here in a page from the next book! We are extremely excited to read the next edition and play with this fantastic looking doll.






The Bear is totally enamored with Nola, the doll, and I can only imagine that the adorable Rue will have a similar impact on her. She takes Nola everywhere, teaches her about everything (saying things like "Nola doesn't know about pretzels"), and generally makes sure that she is never lonely.




So many of you have left wonderful comments fondly recalling that special doll, stuffed animal or toy from your own childhood. I've enjoyed reading every single story and can't thank you enough for sharing what, for a good number of you, seem like very personal memories from decades ago. I can promise you that Nola has a good chance to be that special, unique stuffed animal that your child will cherish forever. I cannot urge you enough to go out and buy this instant classic book and the beautiful Nola doll for your child or for yourself.

Thanks again for spending this week with OWTK and the WorryWoo Monsters!

Joining us at the end? Go back and read the OWTK Review of The Lonely Little Monster and the OWTK Interview with Andi Green.

Visit the Official WorryWoo Monsters Website!

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Don't forget to leave a comment back here for your chance to win Nola - today is the last day to enter!

OWTK Interview with Andi Green - creator of The WorryWoo Monsters

WorryWoo Week continues on OWTK!

Get caught up on what you've missed - read the OWTK Review of The Lonely Little Monster. Stop back on Friday for a sneak peek at what's next in The WorryWoo series!

**Remember, you still have a chance to win NOLA! See details at the bottom...after the interview!**

Andi Green - author, creator and illustrator of The WorryWoo Monsters - was kind enough to answer a few questions about The Lonely Little Monster, the process of self-publishing and the future of The WorryWoo Monster series. She also provided this image of Nola and Rue (the next character in the WorryWoo series) that originally appeared as an art installation in NYC.

OWTK: First of all, congratulations on Nola, the first WorryWoo Monster book and doll - they are both stunning works of art. How long has Nola, the book, been in the works?

Andi Green: Nola and The WorryWoo Monsters first appeared in 2001 as part of an art exhibition in NYC, at the time I called them “The Monsters in My Head”. Each monster was framed in a light box (24X 36) with a story Xerox transferred to the front. Throughout the exhibition and once it was down I kept getting asked if I would sell my pieces and if I ever considered expanding this series into a more mass marketable idea. After a year of thinking about it, I decided to give it a go. I chose Nola to be my first. I started creating her book in 2002, but it wasn't until September of 2006 that I decided to really pursue the idea of publishing my book and making an actual Nola doll!

OWTK: Describe the process of self-publishing a kid's book. Many folks may think this is an easy thing to do…is it?

AG: I wouldn’t call it easy, but it is an exciting process. There are so many things to think about when your creating a book on your own. Designing, illustrating, writing and editing your book --- where to produce and how you want the final product to look – then isbn , barcode, sans, library code number. So you get through all this and then you have a book and the next phase of selling and getting your title out there begins. I am still trying to figure out the best formula, but it is a great experience, I still can’t believe I finished my first book!

OWTK: What are your goals with The WorryWoo Monsters – where do you see the series in five years?

AG: In five years I hope The WorryWoo Collection is complete and I am at a point where I am able to focus my full attention to expanding the series - I work full time and on the WorryWoos at night. Because each WorryWoo is an emotion, I think these six are just the first of so many emotions to be explored.

OWTK: What is coming up next in the series and how long will readers have to wait between books?

AG: The next in line will be Rue, The Monster of Insecurity. He is just about complete and ideally his story and plush will be available Mid-Summer or early Fall. I can't wait to release him, he is awesome!

OWTK: What have you learned through the process of publishing The Lonely Little Monster that you wish you'd known prior to starting?

AG: That's a tough question because I am still learning, which can be looked at as both good and bad. There are so many components you have to think about before getting your book out. From early reviews to distribution it is wise to lock down a plan... I jumped into this with little to no plan.. but on the flip side if I had researched all this I may have gotten too scared and never produced Nola... HA.

OWTK: The Lonely Little Monster deals frankly with the idea of being alone, something many kids and adults struggle with on a daily basis. There are numerous kids' books that address loneliness and other emotional topics, in what ways is The Lonely Little Monster book (and the entire WorryWoo series for that matter) different?

AG: There are definitely a lot of books out there that deal with emotions. What sets The WorryWoos apart are they are the emotion itself not just a character whose story some way ties into an emotion. Every time I’d pick up a current children's story that deals with life’s hurdles, the actual emotional experience seemed to be almost hidden and overly soft. My goal was to follow in the footsteps of older authors like Silverstein and Sendack, where you go for a real journey through the good and the bad. One that is simple enough to leave room for interpretation and discussion. I've received a very positive response on this from Art Therapists and Teachers who are using Nola and The Lonely Little Monster as a means for discussion.

OWTK: Where will folks be able to pick up Nola The Lonely Little Monster Book and Doll? Can we expect to see them in some of the big box book retailers?

AG: They are available on my website and on Amazon.com. Right now I am looking into getting my products more widely distributed, ideally into lots of independent book and specialty stores. When someone buys from my site the sale actually goes to an independent store that carries my product, I thought that was cool. But I wouldn’t stop a big retailer from carrying my stuff too… ☺

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Enter for your chance to win NOLA!

OWTK is giving away two (2) set of Nola The Lonely Little Monster. The winners will each receive the 1st edition book, signed by Andi Green, and the plush Nola doll.
For your chance to win, simply leave a comment back on the original post here telling me about your favorite childhood stuffed animal/doll/action figure/imaginary friend.
Do so before midnight (Eastern Time) on Friday the 15th and consider yourself entered in the giveaway. Winners to be announced the next day, 2/16.

*As always, I'm required to remind you that OWTK will never sell, abuse or even use (unless you win) your email address.

OWTK Introduces You To: The WorryWoo Monsters

I hereby declare this OWTK WORRYWOO WEEK!

*****2/13/08 Update - Read the OWTK Interview with WorryWoo creator Andi Green!*****

OWTK is proud and extremely excited to introduce you to The WorryWoo Monsters - a stunningly beautiful new series of children's books (and adorable stuffed animals) that aims to tackle the emotions we all face (loneliness, insecurity, confusion, etc).

I say introduce because I don't believe word has really spread far (yet) about the WooryWoo Monster series and/or the first book in it, Nola The Lonely Little Monster. The goal of this post, and the few that are too follow, is to change that.



WorryWoo Week is going to look something like this: today is the OWTK review of The Lonely Little Monster, a positively gorgeous book, and an awesome giveaway where you can win your very own first-edition autographed hardback copy of The Lonely Little Monster and a big, cuddly Nola plush doll. In the coming days, OWTK will bring you a Q&A with WorryWoo creator/author/illustrator Andi Green. After that, an exclusive sneak peak at what's in the WorryWoo pipeline.


The Lonely Little Monster

Nola is, as the title suggests, a lonely little monster who is desperately in need of a friend or, we are to imagine, a mere passer-by. She is flat-out miserable because of her loneliness for the first portion of the book and eventually cries an ocean of tears at her misfortune. The reader feels Nola's pain and empathizes with her simple wish of companionship. It's the pouty way in which Nola explains her emotions that we understand just how young of a monster she is. Kids will respond to her plea and the manner in which she longs for a playmate. It's in her bountiful tears, half way through the book, that she finally gains the company she desires.


Therein lies a subtle message for kids and adults alike - never be afraid to be honest about your feelings even if it means being moved to tears for it's inside that display of raw emotion that we can overcome our fears and longings. That happens to be exactly what Nola learns when through her damp eyes she spots tiny critters in the wake of the sea. Turns out those who we long to be near often feel the same way about us and are sometimes right under our noses.

The story is sweet and simple yet at the same time carries with it a subtle heaviness, after all this is a powerful emotion being examined here. It's the illustrations, however, that set The Lonely Little Monster apart from virtually every other children's book on the market. Andi Green's watercolors are without a doubt some of the prettiest artwork to accompany literature that this writer has ever seen. It is a true work of art from start to finish.

At first, I did have this complaint about the book : The reader wants to spend quality time on each page, to fully appreciate Mrs. Green's depictions of Nola and her surroundings, but there is an overall lack of text from page to page. This structure makes the reader feel as though they must progress through the book too rapidly. I feel that maybe there was so much wonderful art ready for this first book and a strong desire to share that art with the world that the text was spread out a bit too thin. But it turns out this isn't a complaint at all. The book's layout is used to encourage, rather than deter, folks to spend more time on each page AFTER the initial read. So, we typically flip through the book twice at each sitting - once to read/hear the story and again to admire the artwork and the story that the pictures tell.

Any book lover should rush to pick up The Lonely Little Monster for themselves and their small children. I would put the ideal age for this book at 4-8 but as with many kids books, the real age range is much wider.



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THE LONELY LITTLE MONSTER GIVEAWAY!

We are happy to be able to give away two (2) sets of Nola - The Lonely Little Monster. The two winners will each receive the 1st edition book, signed by Andi Green, and the plush Nola doll.

For your chance to win, simply leave a comment here telling me about your favorite childhood stuffed animal/doll/action figure/imaginary friend. Do so before midnight (Eastern Time) on Friday the 15th and consider yourself entered in the giveaway.
Winners to be announces the next day, 2/16.

*As always, I'm required to remind you that OWTK will never sell, abuse or even use (unless you win) your email address.

Thanks and best of luck!

Can't wait to win? Buy The Lonely Little Monster and Nola today!