The first review

Vicky Wong and Michael Murphy form the author-illustrator team Meomi that has given us a picture book favorite, The Octonauts & the Only Lonely Monster. The pictures combine Japanese kawaii (cute) aesthetic with retro hints of The Jetsons and a Putamayo world sensibility. That may sound complicated or taxing, but it isn't. The illustrations are immediately appealing as are the menagerie of characters (polar bear, brown bear, dog, penguin, octopus, cat, bunny, and "vegimal") who make up the big-hearted crew of octonauts. A surprising undersea encounter spurs the octonauts on a mission around the world, which we readers using eyes and hands gladly follow. We meet colorful creatures whose multilingual greetings pepper the pages with imaginary local color. The journey ends in a happy homecoming that revels in the idiosyncrasies of one and all.

I loved this book instantly, and I love it still.

The Octonauts & the Only Lonely Monster
Meomi
Immedium, Inc., 2006