Storytime: Monsters!

I love monster stories. You have to be careful, of course, that you don’t pick anything too scary – start with really unscary stories, and keep an eye on how everyone is responding. Tone it down or ramp it up accordingly.

Sometimes there is no helping it, though. I was doing a (non-monster-themed) storytime for five-year-olds and pulled out an old standby, Leonardo the Terrible Monster. When we got to the roaring part, one kid inexplicably totally freaked out and started screaming, and (I was told later) didn’t stop for hours. What can you do?

I’m also a big fan of The Monster at the End of this Book – it was one of my little sister’s favorites, and it’s still a hit today (although I’ve had a few kids ask why Grover, and not Elmo, is the star of this book). There are lots of opportunities for interaction, which is fun, but can definitely rile the kids up. Read this at the end of storytime and then send them home with their caregivers. 😀

Younger Children

My Monster Mama Loves Me So – Laura Leuck

Where’s My Mummy? – Carolyn Crimi

The Monster at the End of this Book Jon Stone

Go Away, Big Green Monster! – Ed Emberley

The Monster Who Loved Books – Keith Faulkner

Go to Bed, Monster! – Natasha Wing

I’m Looking for a Monster – Timothy Young

Older Children

Leonardo the Terrible Monster — Mo Willems

The Gruffalo – Julia Donaldson

Monster Goose – Judy Sierra

The Gunniwolf – Wilhelmina Harper

The Very Worst Monster – Pat Hutchins

Snip-Snap! What’s That? – Mara Bergman

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