Poesy the Monster Slayer: Action-packed, clever thinking

 

Poesy the Monster Slayer by Cory Doctorow illustrated by Matt Rockefeller is quite the read-aloud to share with elementary-aged children.  Children are often asking for scary books and if there are monsters, even better.  This is the perfect story for those fearless children who believe that they can overcome anything. It is also nice for anyone who likes stories with action, humor and an element of surprise.

Posey's parents tell her it is bedtime but sleep is the last thing on her mind.  She's been studying her monster book and is ready to take these monsters on who attempt to get her after the lights go out.  Poesy uses the facts she learns about each monster--werewolf, octopus, vampire, Frankenstein--to drive them away.

Even with her parents waking up to put her back to bed, Poesy's work is never done.  Each page's illustrations have clues that point to the next monster that will visit Poesy.  This makes reading and re-reading the book ideal for children.  The illustrations also include comic style speech bubbles and frames which make it a different reading experience for picture book readers. 

Some ideas for enrichment include:  children can make a comic of themselves dealing with a rule that they disagree with, like bedtime. They can brainstorm what they know about different monsters.  How would they use what they know about them to drive them away?  Turn the focus on Poesy's character:  how would they describe her?  What was their favorite way that Poesy protected herself?  How would they have done things differently?