When a girl by the name of Flin Flon learns of an opportunity to become a booger hunter’s apprentice, she eagerly seeks out the job. Mrs. Bird takes Flin Flon under her wing and shows her the ropes. After trekking through the night to the place where baby monsters live, Mrs. Bird shows how to use tweezers to pluck “slimy green boogers” from the noses of monsters that are unable to get them themselves. By the end of the story, Flin Flon is excited to help out any babies that are unable to clean out their own noses.
The story is creative and… unusual. I doubt than many parents have ever seen another book with this theme! Kids are sure to love the grossness of a story centered around boogers and monsters. And parents may enjoy trying to find the appropriate syncopation needed to read the prose aloud. The real highlight of this book, however, is the illustrations. They are striking, detailed and spooky (although not scary), and in many ways they outshine the story itself.
The Booger Hunter’s Apprentice is perfect for any parent that wants to teach their children the value of helping out with a new baby sibling. Benoit Chartier has created a unique story that is sure to both charm and gross out at the same time.
