Review: Burly & Grum - Beyond the Forest The Burly & Grum Tales (1) by Kate Tenbeth

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Groblins live deep in the heart of the Great Forest and very few people know they exist.
Despite the fact Grum is only a young groblin his two brothers throw him out of his home and tell him he has to go away and prove that he’s brave before they’ll let him back. Grum decides that the best way to do this is to go and find a human and bring it back home.  Along the way he meets Burlington bear (Burly to his friends),  who takes him under his paw and together they go to town! They soon get into trouble and along the way discover cupcakes, carnivals, kittens and what humans are really all about. But will Grum manage to convince his brothers that he's brave?

MY TAKE:
I was intrigued by the idea of a children's book featuring a bear and a groblin.

In Burly & Grum, Burly the bear helps Grum the groblin try to prove that he's brave so he can go back home to his family. To do so, they travel to a city filled with humans, and that's where things become even more interesting.

The book was just okay for me. Burly & Grum had some funny moments, and their tongue-in-cheek humor can insert laughs almost anywhere. I also enjoyed the part wherein Burly and Grum would interact would things that were common to humans but not to them. As a whole, though, it didn't always hold my attention. I think it was because the writing style just didn't work for me. This book is better suited for young boys and people who like their children's books a little bit sarcastic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Smith Publicity - Magic Toy Books for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

1. There are some funny moments.
2. There are illustrations to break the monotony.
3. The author takes the concept of goblins, makes it new, and it works.

THE BAD:

1. The writing style may not work for everyone.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

Burly reached over and helped himself to a bright yellow iced cup-cake with sprinkles on top and popped it in his mouth - delicious.

READ IT IF:

1. You are sarcastic.
2. You like tongue-in-cheek books.
3. Your kid likes bears and goblins.

RATING:


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