Night of the Veggie Monster

   

     Night of the Veggie Monster written and illustrated by George McClements is a book with a unique style.  The story line and pictures within the book are different than the majority of story books.  This is a realistic fiction picture book that will capture its readers.  This is a story of a little boy who does not like to eat green vegetables.  It is a very descriptive process of how he attempts to eat his three peas for dinner. 

 On this particular night when attempting to eat a pea, his hands become wiggly and toes seem to twist and curl up.  These are a few signs of transforming into a veggie monster.  He accidentally swallows the pea and find out that it is not as bad as he thought it would be.  The parents of the boy watch unsurprised as the nightly performance unraveled.  Tomorrows dinner  will be a different episode with a different vegetable.  

     This would be a great story to read to students in my classroom.  The Night of the Veggie Monster was written with lots of description, character and humor.  The artwork within the book was beautifully created.  It was organized with mixed-media illustrations in the form of a collage.  

     This book is for students in Kindergarten to Second grade.  I think the grade level is appropriate because you can read it aloud to kindergarten students and have a discussion.  The first and second graders should be able to read the book alone.  This is beneficial because they will gain more phonological awareness and vocabulary building.  Night of the Veggie Monster can be used to teach chronological order by having students tell what happen at the beginning, middle and end of the story.  

Page 24 of Literature and the Child states that "contemporary realistic fiction consist of a plausible story, well-defined conflict, strong characterization and the illustration enhances the characterization and plot".  Page 12 of Literature and the Child states that a picture book is a unique combination of text and art.   Night of the Veggie Monster fulfills all of the requirements that will engage all of its readers.  

The illustrations in Night of the Veggie Monster are big and colorful.  Paint, colored pencils and and simple line drawings were used in the drawings that were not media cut-out.  Glass with ice and water, forks, food and of course peas are some examples of cut-out media used in the illustrations.  The illustration assist in helping the story to come alive.  The text and illustrations worked well to enhance the story.

Motivational activities for students:

1.  Have the students draw a picture of what they think the boy would look like if he had turned into the veggie monster.  Next, write a description of the picture.

2.  Match the descriptive words with the pictures of the body part.

3.  Using picture cards and words.  Have students place the body actions in order from what happened first to last when the pea touched the boys' mouth.

This is a great book to read because it shows children that it is okay to eat veggies.  

My reader's response to students would be:

1.  Are vegetables and veggies the same thing?

2.  Are veggies important to eat?  Why or why not?

3.  Why do you think the author wrote the book about a little boy who is afraid to eat his veggies?

References:

Galda, L., Cullinan, B.E., & Sipe, L.R. (2011).  Literature and the Child.  (7th ed., pp. 12, 24).  Belmont:  Wadsworth Pub Co.

McClements, George, (2008).  Night of the Veggie Monster.  New York,  Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books