I Need My Monster

It’s an age old quandary: is the monster under the bed friend or foe?

In I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll, a monster is okay, even necessary, but it has to be a special monster.  What happens if your monster takes the night off to go fishing? 

We highly recommend following along while this story is read by Rita Moreno,

then reading it again to explore the types and number of monsters that come to visit.

Do some more monster counting with these number cards, and a little bit of alphabet work. 

Allow your child to draw and describe the monster under their own bed.  What makes it scary? What makes it nice?  What makes it just right for your child?

Use the free printables found on Somewhat Simple, a handful of paper clips, magnet, string and poll to create your own fishing time.  Go fishing for monster parts and assemble silly monsters with the items you catch.

What does the boy in the book use to protect himself from the monster?  What items does your own child use?

Perhaps it might be nice to add some monster be gone spray to the bedtime routine.

Or, maybe you can create a tiny model of your child’s monster and offer them their own bed.

How about lunch?

We’re hungry for monster tails, claws and drool (hot dogs, Bugles corn snacks, and applesauce)

Is there time to make some monster cookies for dessert?

Or, check out the many creative monster crafts found on our pinterest board.

Ready for more monster books?

Goodnight, Little Monster by Helen Ketteman

There’s a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer

Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty

Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters by Jane Yolen

Leonardo, the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

Go to Bed, Monster by Natasha Wing

Goodnight Goon: A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex

Monster Math by Anne Miranda

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

If You’re a Monster and You Know It by Rebecca and Ed Emberly

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer

Colette is going on the trip of a life time.  In fact, she’s orchestrated a significant part of her life in order to be able to take this trip.  But, it may just be the death of her.

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender is an opportunity to explore Paris, history and life through Colette Iselin’s eyes.

The problem? Those eyes are seeing the ghost of Marie Antoinette and she seems to want Colette dead.

Colette’s trip itinerary is listed below.  Each site has a link to a short tour of the area.  Chose the attraction that appeals the most to you and research it’s more colorful history. (ghost sightings, murders, general debauchery and mayhem)

Itinerary

Chateau de Versailles

Le Louvre

Basilique de Saint-Denis

Notre Dame

La Conciergerie  

Champs-Elysees

Catacomes

Musee Rodin

Musee d’Orsay

Eiffel Tower

Sacre Coeur

If you could travel any place in the world and spend a week, where would it be?  Why?

Put together a full travel itinerary.  When would you go?  How would you get there?  What sights would you see and when?

What is your budget? Include the cost of transportation, admissions, hotel, food, and souvenirs.

If you were going to make this trip actually happen how would you have to budget and prepare for it?

If you choose France, don’t forget to learn a little of the language from sights suggested here and here.

Marie Antoinette was a true fashionista. If you were a fashion designer at the time, what kind of dress, or shoes would you design for her?

Or, perhaps you’d rather research the guillotine.

http://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/french-revolution.htm

http://www.theguillotine.info/how/

http://www.history.com/topics/french-revolution/videos/guillotine

Let’s talk actual ghost sightings:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moberly%E2%80%93Jourdain_incident

http://www.marilynztomlins.com/articles/haunted-versailles-the-day-marie-antoinettes-ghost-returned-to-versailles/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go071aHkfMI

Now, put on a pot of Mathilde’s Pot au Feu and try your own hand at ghost hunting with the help of Ghost Hunting for Beginners or The Everything Guide to Ghost Hunting.

Personally, we’re saving up for one of these ghost hunting starter kits.

Want more books like this?  Try a few of these:

Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

Ghost Huntress: The Awakening by Marley Gibson 

Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves

Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Rules by Cynthia Lord

(AR level 3.9)

Rules by Cynthia Lord is a book full of fun and fabulous opportunities to see the world through the eyes of those who have special needs, as well as those who love them.

Catherine is a typical 12 year old, with typical thoughts and feelings, but a not-so-typical life that she sometimes has a hard time with.  Her brother has autism and it always seems as if his needs come before anyone else.  He has a lot of needs.

Rules has one both a Newbery Honor and a Schneider Family Book Award  for the humorous and sensitive way it portrays life with disabilities.

There is a fabulous set of teaching aid available for this title on Scholastic’s website.

And, here are some further book extension ideas to consider.

Every character in the book has a different way of coping with their problems.  Can you identify each person’s talent/personal therapy measures?  What are yours?

Have you ever considered learning to draw, or playing an instrument such as the guitar or piano?

Do you know someone with special needs? How would you draw a picture of their life?

What it’s like to have a brother with autism?

Or, be in a wheelchair?

Consider rules or schedules you have in your own life.  Do the help with daily life of feel restricting? If you could define your own set of rules for life, what kinds of things would you include?

Find and write out a list of all the rules Catherine creates in the book. What is your favorite rule in Catherine’s book for David? Practice writing it in different creative ways and turn it into an art project.

Consider how you feel about spending time with those who have special needs.  How does your time with them make you feel or think about life?  Do some research into what it's like to have a career as an art therapist, music therapist, speech therapist, or occupational therapist.  In what other ways can you use your own talents and interest to help others and build a career?

Also, if you really enjoyed this book, there is an opportunity to write to the author on her website.

Want more books like Rules?  Try these:

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

And just because we think it’s totally awesome, check out this fish tank.  But remember, No Toys in the Fish Tank!

Roscoe Riley Rules #1

(AR level 2.9)

Roscoe Riley is learning about bees and other important things in his first rule book: Roscoe Rile Rules #1: Never Glue Your Friends toChairs by Katherine Applegate.

Here’s some ways your child can learn about bees too.

First things, first. A pair of bee bobbles for the day is a must!

Then, watch a couple of videos-

Roscoe is in charge of bringing goo sticks, scissors and paper to school, what is your favorite craft to make with these supplies? Use these items to create your own bees and honeycomb.

Have a lunch of peanut butter and honey sandwiches, bananas (with no yucky spots) and fishy crackers.

Introduce your child to rhythm using any form of sticks that are convenient for you, and play along with 4 Square. 

Talk about rules and consider making a simple rule reminder with bee prompts. 

Talk about emotions and facial expressions. Use a pair of stick-on eyebrows (or strips of black felt with tape) and a mirror for the child to practice different expressions, including the epic eyebrow raise.

Finish the day with a juice box war and a slice of mom’s banana-avocado-raisin cream pie. Just kidding.

Work together to make giant chocolate cupcake with lots of gooey icing with sprinkles.

Remember, you can always check out our Pinterest board for even more fun and book spark ideas.

 

Ready for Roscoe’s 2^nd rule?  Check out Never Swipe a Bully’s Bear

Also consider these similar titles:

Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive by Joanna Cole

Super Burp! By Nancy Krulik

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look

Bees by Sue Barraclough

Rules for School by Alec Greven

Tony Baloney School Rules by Pam Munoz Ryan 

And don’t forget: