Pistes d'exploration

Sing and dance along with a video of If You’re Happy and You Know It. Start an anchor chart list of action words.

Discuss the title and book cover. Make predictions about how this version will be different from the original.

As you read, sing and dance to act out the story. Share ideas of other actions and words that fit the theme. Add these new action words to your list.

Make a class book in the same style, but instead of a monster, choose a different imaginary creature such as a ghost, alien or leprechaun.

Sing and dance along as the story is read aloud.

Sing and dance along to a video of If You’re Happy and You Know It. Start an anchor chart list of action words.

Sing and dance along to a video of Head and Shoulders, Baby. 

Describe the monsters (two big eyes, three green legs, etc.) as you go on a picture walk. In pairs, create your own crazy monster, label its body parts and practise describing it for others. Decide on actions for your monster, then create a new song.

From Head to Toe, Can You Make a Scary Face?

Mots-clés

Picture book , Songs , actions , dancing , monsters , movement , recurrent patterns

Commentaire descriptif

This rollicking sing-a-long is a monster mash-up of the familiar tune “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” Lyrics are fun and easy to follow, with directions that encourage listeners to get moving. Smacking claws, stomping paws and twitching tails will soon have readers up on their feet. Stanzas repeat, adding predictability to the language and anticipation for participants: “If you’re a monster and you know it, and you really want to show it . . . wriggle your warts.” Digital illustrations of the zany beasts in bright neon colours resemble collage paper cut-outs. Pitch-black backgrounds perfectly offset the vivid, wild-eyed creatures as they “snort, growl, smack, stomp, twitch, wiggle and roar.” Action words like “ROAR ROAR” take up their own double spreads accompanied by images such as a wide-mouthed, hot pink monster, all jagged teeth, spitting out the words. Fonts have a torn paper look to match. A three-panel foldout towards the end is crowded with a motley monster crew as we are instructed to: “Do it all!” The very final page suggests that readers start again. And that is, most likely, exactly what will happen. A charming and silly way to test out your inner monster. A link is provided to download the catchy tune.