No Such Thing as Nessie!

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Finlay is going on a Nessie hunt. While visiting his Gran, who lives beside Loch Ness, Finlay is determined to get proof that Nessie, the famous Loch Ness Monster, really does exist. Finlay's Gran might believe him but his big sister Sarah keeps telling him there's no such thing. Until they spot a monster-ish shape under the water ...

There's no such thing as Nessie: is there?

Travel to the shores of Loch Ness with Kirsteen Harris-Jones's bright, playful illustrations of the Scottish landscape accompanied by Chani McBain's fun monster-hunting story.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

K-Gr 2-Finlay, a dinosaur-loving boy, is curious about the infamous Loch Ness monster. His Gran, who saw "Nessie" as a small girl, plans a monster hunt. After numerous false sightings, his sister, Sarah, tells Finlay that there is no such thing as the Loch Ness monster and Gran provides Finlay's only encouragement for finding the elusive creature. On the last day of their holiday, Finlay and Gran picnic near Urquhart Castle and just when it seems as if Finlay has lost all hope, the mythical beast makes an appearance. Playful, detailed illustrations fill each mixed-media spread. Children will love spotting the Nessie-shaped objects that appear throughout the book and appreciate the Scottish landscape. Readers who are not deeply interested in dinosaurs or the Loch Ness monster may lose interest in the story, as it is a bit wordy for a storytime group.-Krista Welz, North Bergen High School, NJ (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

A young dinosaur lover's dream comes true when he visits his Loch Ness grandmother. Finlay's gran claims to have seen the monster--even to have fed it shortbread. Trailed by a big sister sporting both earbuds and a skeptical attitude, he "spots" Nessie everywhere: in a local business' sign; in an inflatable toy monster left at the loch's shore; a "head" that turns out to be a research submarine's periscope; and a long, spooky shadow from (adding a surreal note) a construction crane that rolls out of the woods. Ultimately, of course, when Finlay declares that there is no monster and angrily chucks a handful of Gran's shortbread into the water, up rises a green monster reminiscent of what Steven Kellogg's eponymous Mysterious Tadpole (1977) grew into. The older figures in Harris-Jones' bright cartoon illustrations mostly just stand around in static poses and watch as Finlay goes from high excitement to drooping disappointment--but the lake and the green, rolling hills all around give the quest and encounter an idyllic setting. A bit of monster hunting, contrived of plot but predictable of outcome and too bland to be scary. (Picture book. 5-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.