Grade PreK–2Kindness & Character

The Monsters' Monster

Written & Illustrated by Patrick McDonnell

Three little monsters work together to create the biggest, scariest monster of all — but when their creation comes to life, he surprises everyone by saying 'thank you' and spreading nothing but kindness. A warm, funny twist on what it really means to be a monster.

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From the Library Director

Patrick McDonnell is the creator of the beloved comic strip Mutts, and his picture books carry that same gentle, disarming warmth. This one is a perfect first-week-of-school read-aloud — it gets kids laughing and then quietly thinking about what kindness actually looks like. The ending never fails to land.

Big Idea

The most powerful thing anyone can be — monster or not — is kind.

Discussion Questions

1
What did the three little monsters want to create? What did they expect their monster to do?
2
What surprised you about the big monster? Why do you think he acted the way he did?
3
What does it mean to be 'scary'? Can something look scary but actually be kind? Can you think of an example?
4
The big monster says 'thank you' right away. Why is gratitude — saying thank you — an act of kindness?
5
How did the little monsters feel at the end of the story? What changed for them?
6
What is one kind thing you could do today that might surprise someone — just like the big monster surprised everyone?
7
How does Patrick McDonnell use pictures to tell parts of the story that the words don't say? What did you notice?
8
If you could create your own monster, what would it be like? Would it be scary, kind, funny, or something else? Why?

Activity: Design Your Own Monster

Students design a monster with a surprising hidden quality — just like the big monster in the story — and write about what makes their monster truly special.

1
Draw your monster. Make it look however you want — big, small, furry, scaly, one eye, ten eyes. Give it a name.
2
Now give your monster one surprising quality that nobody would expect from looking at it. Write one sentence: 'My monster looks _____, but it is actually _____.'
3
Write or dictate two to three sentences about what your monster does to show its surprising quality. Be specific — what does it say or do?
4
Share your monster with a partner. Tell them: what would people think when they first see your monster, and what would they think after they got to know it?

Standards Connections

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3 — With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4 — Identify words and phrases in stories that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.3 — Use drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event and provide a reaction to what happened.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.5 — Add drawings or visual displays to descriptions to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
Social-Emotional Learning — Practice kindness, empathy, and recognizing that appearances can be deceiving.
Visual Literacy — Analyze how an illustrator's style and visual choices contribute to tone, humor, and meaning.