Tara Black

When another family on their block are the first to get a monster, showing him off to neighbors and schoolfellows, the children in this amusing picture-book creation from New Zealand author/artists Richard Fairgray, Tara Black and Terry Jones demand one of their own. Overcoming their parents' objections, the children succeed in getting their monster, only to discover that he isn't quite what they ordered. With such an unimpressive pet, especially compared to the Turners' wonder-monster, what will the children and their parents do...?

An entertaining look at the issue of pet ownership, and the sometimes competitive ways in which people compare their companions to those belonging to others, That's Not the Monster We Ordered pairs a humorous text with appealing cartoon-like illustrations. I liked that the family being depicted in the artwork were brown, but that this was in no way the focus of the story, or even commented upon in the text, as this reinforces the idea that wacky and extraordinary things (like having a monster as a pet) happen to all kinds of people. I also liked the heartwarming ending, which emphasizes that our the most important thing that a monster (or pet) can bring to us is not impressive tricks, but love. Recommended to anyone looking for fun new children's stories about having pets, of whatever kind...… (mehr)

This books tells the tale of the work (and play) of Judith Wilson, newly employed by the Nemesis Archive, an institution dedicated to material regarding female domination and submission. Needless to say, she and the other employees have tastes in this direction, and all of them and their friends find themselves frequently on the receiving end of various punitive instruments, particularly canes, wielded by other women to the mutual enjoyment of all. The story this involves predominantly F/F activities, and a variety of chastising rooms are used as the characters develop their internal power struggles and personal friendships. Perhaps the characters are rather too similar, and their domination/submission aims also too similar, to make this an easy read, but it is full of incidents which will enthuse devotees of this genre.… (mehr)