Itty Bitty Betty Blob Makes a Splash - Constance Lombardo - ★★★★.½

AUTHOR: Constance Lombardo

ILLUSTRATOR: Micah Player

SERIES: Itty Bitty Betty Blob, #2

GENRE: Children's Picture Book

PUBLICATION DATE: August 19, 2025

RATING: 4.5 stars.

In a Nutshell: Itty Bitty Betty Blob, the adorable monster, returns in this picture book about facing yet another monstrous challenge. Almost as cute as the first book in terms of storyline, writing, and illustrations. Definitely recommended!

Plot Preview:

Itty Bitty Betty Blob still doesn’t fit in with her fellow monsters in Ghoulington. But she has mostly accepted herself, and knows that being fierce isn't her cup of tea. When the new school year requires all students to try for a club, Betty wants to use her new diving skills in the ‘Devil Divers’ club. However, there’s one big problem. The coach wants his divers to make a big SPLASH in the pool, while Betty can manage just a dainty ‘splish’ in the water. Will Betty once again be the misfit?

I had read the first book: 'Itty Bitty Betty Blob' last year and absolutely loved it. So it was with no hesitation that I pounced upon this ARC the minute I read “Itty Bitty Betty Blob” without even bothering to read the rest of the title or the blurb.

Is it sensible to take such risks while reviewing ARCs?

No.

Was this ARC worth the risk?

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!

Most of my feedback will be the same as before. Betty is as much a cutie patootie! She still knows herself and her likes and dislikes. At the same time, she does listen to her mother’s advice as well. Her mom is just as supportive as in the first book, setting excellent parenting goals. The colourful puffs are also back, and even more adorable this time. 

The writing is exactly the same in quality, and feels just as poetic with many fun alliterations. This time, I also noticed that the text contains plenty of cleverly inserted adverbs, making the book a good option for a class on adverbs.

The illustrations are also just as fabulous, with Betty’s bright pastel colours standing out in stark contrast to the drabness of the rest of the monsters. I loved the way Betty’s meltdown was portrayed; it was the first time I actually realised how much of the titular blob she is! 😄 Betty’s speech bubbles are again written in bubblegum pink, while the rest of the text is in black. All of this adds to the visual impact.

The key difference this time is obviously in the storyline. In the first book, Betty was a bit more uncertain about not fitting into Ghoulington, but this time, her uncertainty is more about disappointing those who have certain expectations of her. Both are valid concerns for today’s kids, so hopefully, Betty’s story will teach them also that they are good as they are.

The only point where this book dips a teeny bit is that the plot is a bit more straightforward than the earlier book. There aren’t any surprises, unlike in the first one where the secret colourful forest was an unexpected twist. Of course, a surprise isn’t really required in a picture book; I just hoped for one because of the earlier experience.

Regardless, even as is, the book still delivers on almost all counts. Be it the story, the characters, the moral, or the illustrations, Itty Bitty Betty Blob makes one heck of a big SPLASH! ⛲

When I read the first Itty Bitty book, I didn’t even know that this was being planned as a series. But now that we have Book Two, I would love to have more Betty books to dive into.

Much recommended! This book will be perfect for ages 4-8. While the book can be read as a standalone, I’d definitely suggest getting both the books for the young ones in your life. It works well at homes and in classrooms, and would also make a great gift to littlies who are not sure about where they fit in their world.

4.5 stars, rounding up wherever applicable on the crest of a big splash!

My thanks to Astra Publishing House and NetGalley for the DRC of “Itty Bitty Betty Blob Makes a Splash”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.