Joseph Coelho shares the tale of a hairy monster that drives a wedge between two best friends. This pesky creature grows bigger and bigger, spoiling their fun—but it’s no ordinary monster. It’s a stubborn argument that just won’t quit. They try name-calling, shouting, and even ignoring it, but nothing works. “The argument appeared out of nowhere, sitting huge and bloated right between me and my best friend.” Then, with one tiny word, everything changes. The friends learn to shrink the monster until it disappears, and soon they can’t even remember what it looked like! This playful story captures how small spats can grow and shows how a simple apology can bring friends back together, teaching kids about compromise in a gentle, fun way. With Coelho’s lyrical words and Allison Colpoys’ charming illustrations, this book celebrates the magic of saying sorry and the strength of friendship.
I love Joseph Coelho’s work!
This book is so well done. It’s about a character called ‘Argument’ who causes discourse in the playground. It keeps growing until apologies are exchanged and then it shrinks. It makes conflict resolution really tangible and easier for little people to understand.
