Chris Browne, the cartoonist of “Hägar the Horrible,” has written and illustrated his first children’s book, “The Monster Who Ate the State,” for the South Dakota State Historical Society. The book will be released at the first South Dakota Young Readers Festival on Thursday, Sept. 25, in Brookings.
“The Monster Who Ate the State” opens with scientists working in an underground laboratory, where they awaken a creature slumbering beneath the earth. With a large roar, Soozy the dinosaur emerges from the Black Hills looking for food, and she discovers a world far different from the one she left behind. Munching on motorcycles, chasing bison and seeing the sights across South Dakota, Soozy hunts for a new place to call home and sparks panic among the state’s inhabitants.
“Dedicated to the children of South Dakota, Chris Browne’s book is a fun and engaging story that shares important facts and information about our state. It also includes a colorful map that shows Soozy’s journey,” says Nancy Tystad Koupal, director of the South Dakota State Historical Society Press. “It is a wonderful addition to our collection, and Soozy will be an instant South Dakota classic.”
Born in South Orange, N.J., Browne brings the prehistoric Soozy to life as he regales readers with her adventures and describes the unique places she visits in the Mount Rushmore State. Browne now lives in Sioux Falls with his wife, Carroll. He is a syndicated cartoonist and artist whose works can be found all over the world.
“The Monster Who Ate the State” will be available for $19.95 plus shipping and tax and may be purchased from most bookstores or ordered directly from the SDSHS Press. Visit www.sdshspress.com, email orders@sdshspress.com or call (605) 773-6009. “The Monster Who Ate the State” is suitable for first- to fourth-grade readers or as a book to be read aloud to younger children. Pre-orders are currently being accepted by the SDSHS Press.
More information about Browne’s participation in the Young Readers Festival can be found by contacting the event’s sponsor, the South Dakota Humanities Council, at (605) 688-6113, or by visiting www.sdbookfestival.com.
