Pistes d'exploration

List books, movies or cartoons that have monsters as the main character(s). What characteristics make these monsters scary or friendly? What did the monster in the book do to make himself less scary?

Illustrate a monster of your own, then write about him or her. What colours exemplify your monster’s personality? Mention activities that you could do together.

Invite a monster character to your house. What information should be included in the invitation? 

Discuss the idiom don’t judge a book by its cover. Based on the title and illustrations on the front and back covers, what did you think this story was going to be about? Were your predictions correct? What did you learn from the story?

Predict what the story will be about based on the front and back book covers.

Scan (flip through) the book quickly. What colours are used? Identify the colourful objects.

Discuss monsters. What do you think will happen when the monster invites himself over? Does the monster look scary or not so scary? What would you do if a monster came to your house? 

Use a T-chart to compare the boy’s and the monster’s feelings. Is the monster scary after all? 

Write a note to a classmate inviting him or her to play with you after school or at recess. What information should you include?

Hey, Little Ant

Mots-clés

Humour , Picture book , illustrations (monochrome) , letters , monsters , point of view , stories in rhyme , stories in two voices

Commentaire descriptif

A misdirected letter leads to panicky preparations by a boy-host and his reluctant monster-visitor. Youngsters will love the boy’s attempt to make his house comfortable for a monster: “I’ll put some cobwebs round the place,And stick some green stuff on my face. I’ll bring my sister just in caseHe needs another kid to chase.” Equally charming are the monster’s concerns: “I’ve never met a kid before. I must remember not to roar.” There is the opportunity for children to share their own experiences of meeting new people. Pencil-effect drawings offer rich detail in line and shading. A single spot of colour pops from each of these soft, lush images: red wagon, yellow rubber ducky, purple necktie. The boy, his little sister and the monster are all rendered in a friendly style, reminiscent of cartoons. All readers will be pleased when the play date is so successful that the monster moves in (under the boy’s bed, next to his cousin). The final image shows the boy and his sister, sleeping on the couch, under a bright quilt. Not because they are afraid, but “Those monsters really love to snore!”