Any child who has ever felt a bit hopeless or suffered from name-calling and teasing will identify with hapless Eric, whose clumsiness and lack of success at school leaves him friendless and the butt of jokes. But Eric’s individuality comes into its own when a monster descends from the hills, and only Eric is ‘stupid’ enough to confront it - with a touching and surprising result. Wormell is the master of facial expression, and the transformation of both boy and monster’s passive acceptance of loneliness into joyful friendship is a triumph of emotional sensitivity. A wonderfully positive, reassuring and funny story for everyone, but especially valuable for sensitive little children who don’t always fit in with the crowd.