Vile: A Cautionary Tale for Little Monsters Mark Robinson; Sarah Horne

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Lessons at the University of Vile are strict! With a timetable designed to refine the skills of grabbing, snatching, pushing, shoving, surreptitious tripping and not-paying-attention, pupils must strive to hone their bad manners, poor personal hygiene and repulsive habits. Graduation depends on pupils demonstrating their monstrosity at all times. Those who don't meet the grade are destined for things far worse - disqualification and quick enrolment at the dreaded Academy of Manners! With a revolting cast of nasties, brought to life by Sarah Horne's scratchy illustrations, this mischievous picture book demonstrates that perhaps life's not so great when spent solely in the pursuit of vileness

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Kirkus Book Review

Two rival Academies in the town of Beastieville counterintuitively offer either training in good manners for the already-virtuous or a bad-behavior curriculum tailored to students who "pester, pinch, and push, / who sniffle in their snot." Unsurprisingly, it's the University of Vile that takes center stage in this import, as variously hairy, blobby, garishly colored cartoon monsters crowd through the doors for encouragement in disruption ("It's vital in the classroom to be messy, loud, and spiteful. / 'More volume, class,' the teacher calls. / 'A racket is delightful' "). Then two Viles fall into a deep hole, and have tohelp each otherto get out. They're summarily expelled, of course, and a page turn later have been transformed into little angels (more or less) through instruction in making "right choices every day" at the other school. Though not really "cautionary" in theBeastly Boys and Ghastly Girlssense, this does offer some memorable lines ("Even if I haven't picked the right school, I'll have picked the right nostril") and acting out to counter the bland modeling more common in standard manner manuals.(Picture book. 6-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.