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I think if you have ever read my blog, than you know that I love Mo Willems and his terrific books. His funny, bright and clever illustrations and wonderful characters make such great read alouds. And though Mo doesn’t’ technically have a “Halloween” book he does have the tale of “Leonardo the Terrible Monster”.
I can’t even tell you how much the children love this book. I see their little faces go right to the cover when I am setting up for my “Frightening Fairy Tales” STE. By the time I open the first page the kids are already giggling with excitement. They know it’s going to be funny.
We are introduced to poor little Leonardo who is slumped in the corner of the first page, pathetic, and not scary at all. Then he attempts to scare two adults who are not in the least afraid. The children open their mouths as big as Leonardo’s and stick out their tongues. I check to be sure none of them are bright blue like the little monster. At every story time though, the kids remind me that their tongues occasionally change that hue when they eat lollipops.
Next, the really great, not terrible at all monsters are introduced. Tony for instance has 1,642 teeth and six mouths! Little foreheads move during the story imagining having a mouth above their eyes like Tony. Then there is the huge Eleanor who is so large only her feet fit on the large pages. Many of the children tell me Eleanor is pretty. I ask how come and they point out the dress, the nail polish and the beads around her ankle. It’s nice to know she puts in some effort. Lastly, we see Hector who is “just plain weird”. The kids love this. They are usually not encouraged to call all the weirdos they see “weird”. So, they make up for it by pointing out all the weird things on Hector giggling as they go.
Leonardo shows us his scary moves which we try to copy. The kids are great at this. Even when Leonardo stands on his hands, I have a few brave children give it a go. I have even seen clever attempts to stand on ones tail.
When we think all hope is lost for our poor little furry friend, he gets a great idea. He will find the most scared kid in the world and “scare the tuna salad out of him”. I don’t think I have encounter a single preschooler that knows what “scare the tuna salad out of him” really means but they laugh because they do understand its the funniest thing they have ever heard. Leonardo researches. We notice in Mo’s illustrations that he needs a cell phone, lots of books, a trash can, a clipboard, pens, a folder, and coffee-of course. The kids love that Leonardo needs glasses to read.
Leonardo pin points the most scared child: Sam. Similarly to our introduction to Leonardo, we find Sam slumped in the opposite corner alone on the page. Leonardo scares Sam with all of his heart which makes him cry. We love to act out crying and being the cocky and excited Leonardo. But, then Sam explains that Leonardo had not made him cry.
The following page is bright pink and absolutely covered in words. The children are surprised that I am going to read all of that. They look at Sam, who appears to be wailing and they are in an awe of his major temper tantrum. We learn that many horrible things have happen to Sam including being pooped on by a cockatoo. When I have fully read Sam’s words I ask the children: what was the worst thing that happened to Sam? It’s always the poop. My favorite was a little boy who raised his hand when I asked the question to which he responded, “when the peekatoo pooped in his head.” I wish it had been a peekatoo.Their poop is way funnier.
Then Mo brings us up really close to Leonardo while he makes the biggest decision: to be a good friend. The kids are pleased to see that Sam and Leonardo are friends, but even more pleased to see that they like to scare and chase each other. Then the story is over, but the kids want to see Sam up close. Maybe there is still a little poop in his hair. Oh yes, I think I see some.
Only one day to Halloween!!
Jenn, Imagination Celebrations
During the “Pumpkin Patch” story time I think it is essential to use a non-fiction book to aid in the learning. Most of the children know that a pumpkin is grown in a pumpkin patch. Most have even visisted a pumpkin patch at one time or another. But, by the time they ususally arrive the pumpkin is full grown and ready to be picked so introducing the book “The Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden” by George Levenson photographs by Shmuel Thaler is great.
I find it some what of a challenge to find non-fiction books that you can use during a read aloud. Usually, it is not at all a question of quality but of size. I sadly don’t have enough time to read the larger books (nor do my pre-school friends necessarily want to sit that long). “The Pumpkin Circle” is the perfect size and so perfectly written for the pre-school learner. Then you add the crisp, large photos and you have a captivating real life story.
We start with a seed. The group looks at the photo of a bright orange glove holding this little seed. We recall pulling these little seeds out of the goopy mess while making a jack-o-lantern. Or we remember eating them warm and toasty from the oven. But, the farmer plants the little seed. The children pretend they are little seeds and I am the farmer pushing them carefully into the ground. I then ask my friends that are now seeds what they need to grow. Sure enough, as the story tells us, they need sun and water and time. We again act this out. The kid’s absolutely love to be watered. Even though they know the water can is empty, the flinch just slightly and giggle as I come around. Now the farmer must wait. We talk about how hard it is to wait. The children show me what they do when they have to wait- lots of eye rolling! We watch the farmer wait. This is my favorite photo as you see the farmer stretched out on a lawn chair arms relaxed behind his head.
The seed does grow though. But much to our surprise every things is green. No orange to be seen. The children comment that it looks just like vines. Bees travel to pollunate. And the farmer waits patiently. Then, finally a bud appears. Slowly, slowly the pumpkin becomes ready for harvest.
The story does not end there, though. The farmer carves the pumpkin into a great jack-o-lantern, lights it, and places outside in the dead of the night under a bright moon. The children love this dramatic full page picture. There are gasps as this little seed as fully transformed into the ultimate Halloween symbol.
Much to the children’s surprise, the story still doesn’t end there. Now the pumpkin begins to decay. This is usually not a pleasant thing to discuss. We don’t like to think of our dear pumpkins rotting away. It reminds me of Frosty the snowman. Who likes the part of the story when he begins to melt? However, the children identify with the pictures as they see the pumpkin “smooshing” into the ground. “That happened to my pumpkin!”, “It stunk real bad!” I hear.
But, wait, what is that? Could it be another pumpkin seed? It sure is. The story ends right where it began: a little pumpkin seed starting out on a long journey.
Only two more days until Halloween!!
Jenn, Imagination Celebrations
To begin “Giant Toe’s” STE it very important to go over the many make believe creatures and characters of the spooky season. And what a better way to do so by reading “By the Light of the Halloween Moon” by Caroline Stutson and pictures by Kevin Hawkes.
This book is such a joy to share with pre-schoolers. The pictures are so whimsical while being both funny and spooky. The writing flows gracefully and elegantly, unfolding at all the right times.
The end papers, which are pitch black, remind the children of many things. I have heard the night sky, the “spooky-ness”, the black bat, the black cat, and so on. It’s amazing how just using a single color can inspire such creativity.
Then the children see the “toe”. “The toe that taps in the dead of the night, by the light, by the light of the Halloween moon.” They are immediately drawn in by this little toe, wondering who it belongs to? Why are they out in the middle of the night? It’s October, why is the toe not covered with a shoe? It is just hanging there off the side of the dock- just asking for the trouble that in sues. And boy does trouble in sue.
Many characters from a witch, a cat, a bat, a ghoul and so on all want to get their hands (or sharp scary teeth) on this little unclothed toe. Some of the characters like a sprite, a ghoul and a williwaw ghost are vocabulary not generally used around pre-schoolers. However, Kevin Hawkes’ illustrations are so descriptive the children pick up the new words quickly. The rhythm of this story is such a stark contrast to the funny illustrations of the crazy antics of the spooky ones. Towards the end of the story, I see mouths moving to the words “by the light, by the light of the Halloween moon”.
Finally, we are made aware of who the toe belongs to. A little overalled girl with pigtail braids playing her fiddle. She surprises the kids with her gusto as she shouts, “Oh no you don’t! That toe is mine!” and takes her musical instrument now turned weapon and whacks the sprite as he is about to sink his teeth into her precious toe. The children love to imagine themselves shouting this at all the underworld creatures that threaten them. They practically enjoy the idea of hitting them with a fiddle.
The last page shows all the creatures returning to where ever they came from and a little house with the lights on. The concluding thoughts from the pre-schools seem to generally be: don’t play a fiddle outside, if you do where shoes, and stay indoors on Halloween night- unless you are going out for candy, of course.
Only three days to Halloween!!
Jenn, Imagination Celebrations
Over this past month I have been doing many Halloween themed STE sessions and am sadly getting to the end of my creepy repertoire. But, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite reads and a little pre-school insight to go along.
The first fave is “The Ugly Pumpkin” by Dave Horowitz which I read during my “Pumpkin Patch” story time. I let the kids know from the start that this is a very sad book. But, they are always quick to remind me that they can handle it. After a few “crying lessons” (they will come in handy later on in the book) we begin by noticing the odd shape of the ugly pumpkin. Here is an odd occurrence: every single time I share this book, the kids tell me the ugly pumpkin looks like an apple. (I completely didn’t see it until just now as I am writing I realize they mean he looks like an apple that has been eaten- the core! Aha! Those clever kids!)
Once we actually open the book, the first observation are the beautiful end papers lined with a rock wall and red and orange leaves that prove, yes indeed, this story takes place in the fall. The ugly pumpkin is a sad little soul who hopes for the best. Sadly, no monster, witch or skeleton take the pumpkin home with them. The children particularly like yelling the “No way!” that the skeleton shouts at the ugly pumpkin.
Then, the most villainous and most awesome characters are introduced. The trees. Ever since I was extremely little and saw those faced, singing, kidnapping, monstrosities on “Babe’s and Toyland” I have always been a bit apprehensive of trees who talk. When the kid’s of story time see Dave’s rendition of scary trees they are in awe. From their first introduction, the children are crying: “Don’t trust those trees ugly pumpkin!” Like a silly damsel in a horror movie, the naive pumpkin “lays down his roots” no sooner to be pelted with apples. The kid’s are sad, but giggle, just a little.
The ugly pumpkin has a break down, he screams at the sky. He cries with the rain. The children love to act this out. (Story teller note- WARNING- Do not ask children to make “blowing of the nose” sound. It will end in boogers. Lots of them)
Then the pumpkin has an epiphany, a realization of self. Oh my gosh, he is a squash!
The last scene is a silhouette of the ugly pumpkin walking off into the sunset. He is accompanied by another squash, who judging by the “flippy” hairstyle and the high heels- I think she is a girl squash. However, many little boys who I have read to recently beg to differ. Ugly pumpkin would never hold a girl’s hand.
Only four days to Halloween!
Jenn, Imagination Celebrations
Holyoke Public Library has been so kind to invite me to do festive fall themes through Halloween. Here is the schedule:
9/19 “Animals in Class”
10/3 “The Giant’s Toe”
10/17 “Pumpkin Patch”
10/30 (The day before Halloween…how spooky!) “Frightening Fairy Tales”
I would love to see you there!
Jenn, Imagination Celebrations
