Big Bad Bubble

The Those Darn Squirrels series team of author Adam Rubin and illustrator Daniel Salmieri is back with this iconographic-animated adaptation of their 2012 picture book featuring a bunch of monsters in La La Land. ‘Fraidy cat Mogo worries the other monsters—Yerbert, Froofle, and Wumpus—with scare tactic stories about bubbles, including bubble wrap, bubble bath, and bubble gum. While the poor monsters hide under covers in fear (“tell Wumpus to stop crying!”), the interactive-style tale implores the gang to get over their silly suspicions (“tell Wumpus he can do it!”). Narrated by Kirby Heyborne, this is a well-meaning tale about conquering childhood fears that is also a somewhat lackluster effort from the usually dynamic duo of Rubin and Salmieri. A strong optional purchase. Aud: K, P. (J. Williams-Wood)