Review of “Brunt and Eggbert” by Jeff Dorrill, Illustrated by Angeles Peinador

Score: 95/100 (9.5 out of 10)

Brunt and Eggbert by Jeff Dorrill is one of the best-illustrated and heartwarming children's books of the year! It is colorfully and beautifully illustrated by Angeles Peinador, who brings the story and characters to life in a way that would make Walt Disney and Don Bluth blush!

Brunt and Eggbert is a positive and uplifting story about not judging people based on the way they look, friendship, compassion, and turning lemons into lemonade—finding light in tough situations!

The story follows the titular characters, Brunt and Eggbert, both of whom are black sheeps and oddballs in their circumstances. Brunt is a big, brown troll/ogre-Yeti-like monster who, despite his imposing and terrifying outward appearance, is actually very gentle and kind. While other monsters are interested in fighting and competing against each other, Brunt is content with gardening. He takes joy in his flowers and plants. He also enjoys his favorite movie, Dirty Harry, and its title character (who is portrayed in this book as a masculine, purple-haired troll-like monster). Brunt is pretty much a nerd, the kind of guy who is happy reading comic books, watching movies, and playing video games (to put things into perspective). He doesn't mean anyone harm. He's also cripplingly shy, causing him to feel pangs of loneliness from time to time. So, it's quite easy to empathize and relate with Brunt.

On the other end of this story is Eggbert, a little blonde-haired boy who was orphaned as a baby after a storm at sea capsized the catamaran his family was on.

Eggbert seemed to be doomed to a difficult and miserable life without his parents, however, the community stepped up to raise him. And, like they say, it takes a village to raise a child. He floated among different households, sorta like a foster kid, and learned all sorts of amazing things from each and every one of his hosts. For example, a cosmetologist taught him how to create all sorts of costumes and disguises. A locksmith taught him how to break locks. All of these skills, along with self-reliance, help Eggbert throughout the story.

This goes to show that one can make lemons into lemonade. It goes to show that no matter how perilous or difficult your circumstances, you can always make the best of it. There's always a silver lining. Few people have a perfect life, and there are almost always bumps and hardships along the way. Even Eggbert's survival and upbringing is a bit of a chaotic and tragic miracle. Not only did he survive the shipwreck, but he was also found by random tourists who left him behind in a car, which was then discovered by a beautiful and kind stranger/traveler. So many people stepped up to try to give Eggbert a chance, and Eggbert never gave up. He kept growing and learning.

Eggbert wouldn't accept that he was a victim—someone who was doomed to fail. He took responsibility and accountability for himself and tried to make the best of a bad situation. And, because of that, he was rewarded.

That's something we really loved about this book!

As expected, Brunt and Eggbert eventually do meet and become very good friends. Brunt even becomes like a big brother or father-figure to Eggbert, who is able to look past Brunt's fearsome exterior to see the good person underneath.

In a lot of ways, you could say that Eggbert's experience taught him empathy and the ability to give people a chance. People were empathetic and caring to him when he was growing up as an orphan. They gave him a chance out of the goodness of their hearts.

Likewise, Eggbert gives Brunt a chance.

By Beauty & the Beast logic, it turns out that Brunt isn't the real monster. The real monsters are people who want to exploit him for their own selfish reasons such as wanting to display him like a zoo animal or a circus act.

Brunt is captured and imprisoned, but Eggbert's skills—which he has gained in his foster homes—allow him to sneak in and free his friend.

Eggbert and Brunt are not only able to make each other better, but they're also able to touch the hearts and awake the goodness in other people like the beautiful and kind zoo veterinarian, Astrid.

This is really an extraordinary children's book that celebrates the goodness and compassion that all of humanity is capable of.

It is a bit on the wordy, convoluted side. It might test your patience a bit in that it's very non-linear and can't seem to get to the point at times. It might also be worth talking to your children about stranger danger and using caution around overly nice people who might not have their best interests in mind.

Nonetheless, this is a really special children's book that could be appropriate for middle-grade readers.

Check it out on Amazon!