Big Fun! (1) (Adventure of Meno)

This book is an introduction to Meno, a little boy named after a character in Plato's dialogue of the same name. The dialogue is a discussion of human virtue, if anyone cares to know. The Meno of this book, however, is a large headed little blond boy who looks something like Elroy Jetson in a sweater vest. The illustrations are cute and have plenty of blank space- which is good for the young baby and toddler crowd I imagine they are intended for. Both pictures and text appear on a pleasing butter yellow background. The "story" is extremely simple, if one can call it a story at all. A page may have a simple "hip-hooray!" opposite a picture of Meno juggling doughnuts, or "Yamagoo!" opposite a picture of Meno's octopus friend. I think he is an octopus- he's got at least five legs and a bulbous body, but he is also blue and levitates off the ground. There is some body humor, as both characters emit a "toot". The story ends with "every fun is a BIG FUN with Meno!" There is a Meno-speak glossary in the back which has definitions for words and phrases from the text such as moo juice = milk. Ahh! The song lyrics at the back indicate that Meno is a space elf and his companion is a jelly fish. Sing to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle" --- Meno, Meno, elf in space, here to visit human race! Up above in clouds you dwell, with a jelly fish who smell." No kidding, I am NOT making this up! A very quirky little book, but it is growing on me.

Meno lived in a little house in the clouds. The roof even had a mushroom-like cap of clouds covering it. Puff, marshmallow puff! The two four-paned windows sat on either side of the little green door with the letter "M" on its face. Of course that stood for Meno, but he was nowhere to be found. Ahhh, there he is! He standing in front of his house with a smile as large as the sun peeking up over the clouds. Hrumff ... Meno is here, but he is wondering where Yamagoo is. He's got on his little thinking cap (it's really just his beanie) and puts his finger to his chin. He's not in bed. He's not in the refrigerator. He's not in the toilet. Of course that is a silly place for Yamagoo to be! Just where did he go?POP! All of a sudden blue Yamagoo is here. He has BIG horn rimmed glasses, a beanie and has five little legs. He looks a little bitty like an octopus. They begin to think about what they want for a "sunshine snack." Meno says, "We enjoy moo juice ... and dough with hole." Doesn't everyone like that sort of thing? They smile and get ready to sit at the table for their snack. The smiling duo get ready for some playtime. "Okay. Now is time for a BIG FUN!" Yamagoo really doesn't know what that is and has to ask Meno. Do you know what a BIG FUN is?I read this book a couple of times and came away loving it! It was bright, cheerful and Meno immediately brought to mind Elroy Jetson. Many very young children have their own little language they use with siblings and friends, but Meno shares his with Yamagoo, a real or imagined creature. Only the reader can decide which he is. In the back of the book there is a "Pronounce Menu," a "Meno-Speak" glossary and a "Meno Theme Song." This is the first in a series of very affordable books that I think your little meno girl or boy are really going to enjoy! Meno, meno!

I will admit right off the bat that I was interested in the Meno series because of the illustration. It's beyond cute and I loved the retro feel to it, it stuck with me since I first laid eyes on the cover. The cover even brags that it is "Presented in vibrant Meno-Color!" and Meno is an "elf of space" really this cannot go wrong in my book.What I wasn't expecting was a rather hilariously written story, while it has very few words or pages it sure is memorable. Though I don't think it would do much for children learning to read, it is bright and colorful and has a humor that I think kids and adults alike can enjoy. When we are introduced to Yamagoo, the other character in this first book in the Meno series I definitely laughed. Yamagoo could have been anyone or anything and he was the perfect companion for the silly Meno. The one thing I had hoped for was more, more illustrations, more pages, and more adventures. Luckily this is only the beginning of Meno's adventures!Overall Big Fun! (Adventure of Meno), it was humorous, excellently drawn, and the start to a great children's book series! I will definitely be watching for the next several books in the series!