Noll, A., & McWilliam, H. (2009). I need my monster. Brooklyn, NY: Flashlight Press.
http://www.storylineonline.net/i-need-my-monster/
I Need My Monster is a unique children's picture book, that can be found at the link above online, about a young man named Ethan who is trying to tuck in the for night. The monster under his bed left him a note that he has gone away to go fishing for the night, leaving Ethan alone and unable to sleep without his scratching claws and long spiked tail. Ethan asks for other monsters to fill in, where he finds reasons why they do not live up to his scary standards going through 5 monsters before he eventually gives up. Gabe, his originally monster eventually makes his way back from fishing and begins terrifying Ethan again, just as he had wanted all along.
This book is meant for children between the ages of 5 to 7.
I felt like this book is different from other very young children's picture books because it actually embraces the idea of a child being friends with the monster under their bed. This can help eliminate the fear that something living under your bed might actually hurt you. Ethan was still a very normal young boy, and I do believe that children could relate to him and see that they are just like him. The story definitely puts you into your bed at night wondering who your own monster would be creating your own bedtime world and imaginary creepy friend.
I felt like this book is different from other very young children's picture books because it actually embraces the idea of a child being friends with the monster under their bed. This can help eliminate the fear that something living under your bed might actually hurt you. Ethan was still a very normal young boy, and I do believe that children could relate to him and see that they are just like him. The story definitely puts you into your bed at night wondering who your own monster would be creating your own bedtime world and imaginary creepy friend.
What's Inside?
Hih-huh, hih-huh, hih-huh, hih-huh......
The author used the above text to describe the way that Herbert the monster breathed while he was under the bed.
Ellipsis-
This picture book has a slight element of a thriller, although it does not entice fear at all. When the monsters talk, they speak in a more mysterious way, therefore dragging out their sentences and making them more terrifying.
You’re almost too old
to be afraid of monsters.
You keep me on my toes.
Ah, toes... a delicious snack.
Imagery -
Each monster in this story has their own elaborate persona and the author does a wonderful job describing them to a reader, and actually wondering what the feel of the disgusting slime would feel like between their fingers.
I peeked over the edge of the bed.
Green ooze spread soundlessly from underneath.
Then the bed trembled as Gabe unfurled his spiked tail.
The illustrations in this piece are very imaginative and really beautifully saturated with exactly you would imagine a child's mind would look like when picturing their monster under their bed. The movement on the page is captivating, and a young child would be sucked into a story like this one.
How can we teach this?
Have your students close their eyes......
Take a deep breath and imagine the monster that would be under your bed. Now lets write. What would that monster look like? Would he/she be friendly? Mean? Funny? Would your monster have clothing? Would it wear makeup? Would it have a tail? Would it fly?
Use these questions to prompt your students to create their own monster under their bed, and have them free write to practice using imagery!
You keep me on my toes.
Ah, toes... a delicious snack.
Imagery -
Each monster in this story has their own elaborate persona and the author does a wonderful job describing them to a reader, and actually wondering what the feel of the disgusting slime would feel like between their fingers.
I peeked over the edge of the bed.
Green ooze spread soundlessly from underneath.
Then the bed trembled as Gabe unfurled his spiked tail.
The illustrations in this piece are very imaginative and really beautifully saturated with exactly you would imagine a child's mind would look like when picturing their monster under their bed. The movement on the page is captivating, and a young child would be sucked into a story like this one.
How can we teach this?
Have your students close their eyes......
Take a deep breath and imagine the monster that would be under your bed. Now lets write. What would that monster look like? Would he/she be friendly? Mean? Funny? Would your monster have clothing? Would it wear makeup? Would it have a tail? Would it fly?
Use these questions to prompt your students to create their own monster under their bed, and have them free write to practice using imagery!
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