We have seen the story of Itty Bitty Betty Blob before (being yourself) but this time around it is the art that makes it terribly fun, quirky and fresh. The black, white and gray coloring of the monsters and the world they live in vs. Betty in all of the colors (done by Micha Player) was a fun change to the everything is all color, if not more dull than the person who is flamboyant. Plus, they were clever, and set the mood. Plus, we get some great humor with Betty, being a blob, being blob-like at times, and this expresses the feelings or thoughts of her. There is an energy within, with a pop to them that makes you slowly read them, look at the details, notice where color was used, what detail was included. Perhaps they were my favorite part of the entire book.
And the story/text by Constance Lombardo was good as well. I mean it is hard to say really which is better, though, yes, I do lean towards the art. This probably is because of the contrasts of Betty’s world/the Monster World vs. the color Betty needs in her life. I am excited for next summer (to be exact, early June 2024) so I can purchase copies as I read via a reader copy online, I know there were things that were missed.
But that story of a little pink blob who just wants to fit in, to have friends, and not be so nice and happy and colorful? It is a scream. I think because it is the reverse of what we usually see (the “monster” trying to fit in with “normals”) it just makes it more fun.