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What Makes a Monster?: Discovering the World's Scariest Creatures
Last updated Monday, October 5, 2026
Author: Jess Keating
Illustrator: David DeGrand
Date of Publication: 2017
ISBN: 978-0553512304
Grade Level: 3rd (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Oct. 2026
Synopsis:
Some people think monsters are the stuff of nightmares - the stuff of scary movies and Halloween. But monsters can also be found right in your backyard. Animals like aye-ayes, goblin sharks, and vampire bats may look scary, but they pose no threat to humans. Others, such as the prairie dog, seem innocent - cute, even - yet their behavior could give you goose bumps.
What makes a monster? Read this book to find out, if you dare...
| Note to readers: |
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A provocative question... Is a monster a scary appearance or scary folk stories? Canny stealth, camouflage,
unexpected surprise? Carrier of disease? Poison? Fearsome claws or teeth? Guile or strength to harm others
for their own benefit? And where do we, humans, fit in this continuum?
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Preview the book! Skip to best parts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnkD17undnc for about ~11 minutes
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Hear the author’s 3-minute guide and tips: at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaSK28758PU/a>
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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What is a monster?
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Who/what are the scariest monsters to you? Fiction and non-fiction. Why / how?
Vocabulary
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The book uses big technical words but, thankfully, it has an extensive glossary in the back. Here are a few extras:
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pharyngeal jaws: 2nd set of jaws that pulls food captured by the primary jaws down the throat (think “Alien”).
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predator: an animal that hunts kills, and eats other animals
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primate: mammals with eyes forward, hands/feet that hold things, and are social (e.g., monkeys, humans).
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superstition: belief in luck, magic, or chance, apart from logic or science
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zooid (ZOH oid): a collection of once-separate organisms that now function and reproduce together as a single creature, e.g., man-of-war “jellyfish” – not a true jellyfish (which are single organisms)
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zombie: in fiction: a corpse brought back to life who must feed upon the living…in real life: a creature whose actions are directed by another (often a fungus or spore)…in humor: a tired person who acts without thinking.
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Which creatures from the book seemed the scariest to you? Which, if any, are realistic threats to us?
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Does understanding the “monsters” make them more or less scary?
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Do you feel sorry for any of them (e.g., the mostly-harmless “Aye-Aye” is killed by superstitious people)?
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Why do you think there was a picture of a (human) baby in a book about “monsters?”
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Also consider the 3 questions listed on the 4th page from the back of the book.
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| Craft ideas: |
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Origami Monsters: a suggestion: pre-fold several sheets of paper in advance, then unfold them. During Craft time, lead the kids in “re-folding” the origami…saves time and complication. NOTE: We have less time for crafts than usual this month because we have a MAGICIAN performing today!! So if you don't want to pre-fold, this is not the craft for today.
_____Scorpion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEbtgtyfEoQ a 4-minute video
_____Bat w/ flapping wings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1POsRmsdLA a 5-minute video
_____Baby Shark “fortune teller” Puppet: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jbaxyU0ZOp4 a 1-minute video
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Paper Bag Monster Puppet: https://iheartcraftythings.com/paper-bag-monster-puppets.html
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Draw a silhouette of favorite monster on colorful paper. Cut it out. Paste to Black paper. Add colorful details.
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Celebrate a “National Day:” Hero Day (8th); Walk to Park Day (10th); Chocolate Day (28th), Magic Day (31st)
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| Special activities: |
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Do the MONSTER Word Search
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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