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