Leonardo, the Terrible Monster facts for kids
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| Author | Mo Willems |
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| Genre | children's books picture books |
| Publisher | Hyperion Books |
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Publication date
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2005 |
| Pages | 44 |
| ISBN | 978-0-7868-5294-9 |
| OCLC | 60822832 |
| [E] 22 | |
| LC Class | PZ7.W65535 You 2005 |
Leonardo, the Terrible Monster is a fun picture book for children written by the famous author and illustrator Mo Willems. It was first released in 2005 by Hyperion Books. This book was even named an ALA Notable Book, which means it was recognized as a great book by the American Library Association.
Contents
The Story of Leonardo
Leonardo is a monster, but he has a big problem: he's not very good at being scary! No matter how hard he tries, he just can't seem to frighten anyone. Other monsters are super scary, but Leonardo struggles to even make a tiny mouse jump.
He decides he needs to get better at his monster job. Leonardo spends time training and doing research to learn how to be truly terrifying. He practices his roars and his scary faces. He studies how other monsters scare people.
Finally, Leonardo finds the perfect target: a nervous little boy named Sam. Leonardo tries his very best scary moves and manages to scare Sam so much that Sam drops his tuna salad sandwich! Leonardo has finally succeeded in scaring someone.
But something unexpected happens. Scaring Sam doesn't feel as good as Leonardo thought it would. Instead of feeling proud, he feels a bit sad. He realizes that maybe being a scary monster isn't what he truly wants to be. Leonardo learns that even if he's a "terrible" monster (meaning not good at it), he could be a really good friend instead.
What the Story Teaches Us
Finding Your True Self
This book is all about discovering who you really are. Leonardo tries hard to be something he's not – a scary monster. But he learns that his true strength isn't in scaring people. It's about being kind and friendly. The story shows us that it's okay to be different from what others expect.
The Power of Friendship
A big message in Leonardo, the Terrible Monster is the importance of friendship. Leonardo realizes that making a friend feels much better than making someone scared. It teaches us that true happiness often comes from connecting with others and being a good companion.
About the Author: Mo Willems
Mo Willems is a super popular American writer and artist. He is best known for his many funny and heartwarming children's books. Before writing books, he worked as a writer and animator for the TV show Sesame Street.
Willems has won many awards for his books. He is famous for his "Elephant & Piggie" series, which includes books like There Is a Bird on Your Head! and We Are in a Book!. He also created the "Pigeon" series, starting with Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!. His books are loved by kids and adults alike because they are funny, easy to read, and often have important messages, just like Leonardo, the Terrible Monster.
