ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Awnie's House ???? Read Aloud: I NEED MY MONSTER by Amanda Noll and Howard McWilliam
Hello, my fabulous reading friends! I’m so happy you’re here to read with me. Today, we’re going to read a fun story called “I Need My Monster,” written by Amanda Noll and illustrated by Howard McWilliam. Let’s see what happens when Ethan’s monster, Gabe, goes on vacation. Can Ethan sleep without his monster? Let’s find out!
One night, Ethan looked under his bed for his monster, Gabe. But instead of Gabe, he found a note that said, “Gone fishing, back in a week. Gabe.” Oh no! Ethan needed his monster to help him sleep. Without Gabe’s spooky sounds and green ooze, how could he ever fall asleep?
Ethan decided to find a new monster. He knocked on the floor and waited. Soon, he heard a creak. A monster named Herbert appeared. But Herbert wasn’t scary enough. He didn’t have claws, just an overbite and a funny way of breathing. So, Herbert left.
Next came Ralph, a monster with shiny claws and nail polish! Ethan needed a monster with scary claws, not polished ones. Ralph left too.
Then, a girl monster named Cynthia showed up. She had sharp claws, but Ethan thought he needed a boy monster. Cynthia left, and Ethan wondered if he was being too picky.
Finally, a monster named Max appeared. He had big claws and a long tongue. But Ethan wasn’t scared of a long tongue, so Max left too. Ethan was worried. How would he sleep without a monster?
Just when Ethan thought no more monsters would come, he heard a familiar creak. It was Gabe! Gabe had returned because fishing wasn’t as fun as scaring Ethan. Gabe’s green ooze and spooky noises were back, and Ethan felt safe and happy.
Ethan and Gabe were a perfect team. With Gabe under his bed, Ethan knew he would fall asleep in no time. Don’t Ethan and Gabe make a great team? I hope you enjoyed our story today. See you next time!
Create Your Own Monster: Use your imagination to draw or craft your very own monster! Think about what makes a monster scary or friendly. Does it have big claws, a long tongue, or maybe it makes funny noises? Use colored paper, markers, or even clay to bring your monster to life. Share your monster with your family and explain why it would be the perfect monster for you.
Monster Sounds Exploration: Close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you. What sounds do you think a monster might make? Try to recreate these sounds using everyday objects like pots, pans, or even your voice. Can you make a spooky sound like Gabe’s creak or a funny sound like Herbert’s breathing? Experiment with different objects and see what unique monster sounds you can create!
Bedtime Monster Stories: With a family member or friend, take turns telling stories about your monster. What adventures does your monster go on? How does it help you feel safe at night, just like Gabe helps Ethan? Use your imagination to create a fun and exciting story, and maybe even act it out as a play!
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hello, my fabulous reading friends! It’s Annie. I’m so glad you came to read with me. If you want to read more stories with me, be sure to subscribe! For shoutouts, book reviews, and more content, follow me on social media.
Our good friend Ethan’s monster, Gabe, has gone on vacation. Ethan doesn’t know what he’s going to do. Will he be able to get to sleep without his monster? Let’s find out as we read “I Need My Monster.” If you have a copy, go get it so you can read along with me!
“I Need My Monster,” written by Amanda Noll and illustrated by Howard McWilliam.
Tonight, when I looked under the bed for my monster, I found this note instead: “Gone fishing, back in a week. Gabe.” What was I going to do? I needed a monster under my bed! How was I supposed to get to sleep if my monster was gone? I tried to sleep, but it wasn’t the same without Gabe. I missed his ragged breathing, his nose whistling, and the scrabble of his uncut claws. How would I ever get to sleep without Gabe’s familiar scary noises and his spooky green ooze?
It was no use. Gabe would be gone for a week, and I just had to have a monster. I climbed quietly out of bed so my parents wouldn’t hear me. Grown-ups have some strange ideas about monsters under beds. I knocked on the floorboards and then scrambled back under my covers. I waited nervously. Would a new monster appear? What would he be like? Would his snorting be as cheerful as Gabe’s?
When I heard some creaking under my bed, I knew that the substitute monster had arrived. “Good evening,” said a low, breathy voice. “My name is Herbert, and I will be a monster for the evening.”
“Herbert? What kind of a name is that for a monster? You don’t sound scary at all. Have you ever scared a kid before?”
“Well, no, but I have read all the best books on the topic.”
“Do you have long teeth and scratchy claws?” I asked.
“No, but I have an overbite and I’m a mouth breather.”
Listen, Herbert’s panting was kind of scary, but it wasn’t enough for me. “Listen, Herbert, I’m sorry. I just don’t think this is going to work. It’s nothing personal, but I really need a monster with claws.”
“Picky, picky,” Herbert complained. “As you wish, I’ll go.”
There was some more creaking, and then Herbert was gone. Some scratching warned me that a second monster had appeared.
“Good evening,” he said in a high, silky voice. “My name is Ralph. I understand you need a monster with claws. If you would please lean over, I will hold out an arm for inspection.”
I crouched on the edge of the bed, hoping to see a horrible, shaggy arm with sharp, ragged nails. Instead, I was surprised to see sleekly brushed fur with smooth, shiny claws.
“Excuse me, I don’t mean to be rude,” I asked, “but is that nail polish on your claws?”
“Yes, it is,” Ralph replied. “I believe professional monsters should always be well-groomed.”
I could tell that this was not going to work either. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Ralph, but I need a monster with scary claws like Gabe’s.”
I thought I heard some more scratching, and I knew Ralph was gone. A minute later, a third voice from under the bed said, “Check out these claws, kid!”
I gathered my courage and peered over the edge. The claws were impressive—jagged and dark and razor sharp. So far, so good. I was a little nervous. “Could you stick out your tail?” I whispered.
“Sure, but don’t get scared.”
I peeked through my fingers at the slimy tail slithering over the foot of my bed. That’s when I noticed the bow. “Are you a girl monster?”
“Of course I am,” she snapped. “I’m Cynthia. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Um, yeah, I do,” I admitted. “I definitely need a boy monster. Boy monsters are for boys, and girl monsters are for girls. Everybody knows that.”
“Well, aren’t you a picky one?” she sniffed, and then she was gone.
Was I being too picky? No, I knew that my monster needed to be well-clawed and menacing. The whole point of having a monster, after all, was to keep me in bed, imagining all the scary stuff that could happen if I got out.
Then I heard a shuffling noise and some slobbering. A fourth monster was under my bed. “Hey, the name’s Max. Look at these claws!”
I leaned over to see. Max was a big, scruffy boy monster. I shivered. Maybe this one would work out.
“Those are excellent claws, but do you have a long tail?”
I leaned over to see. “No, my tail is stumpy,” Max slurped. “But I do have an unusually long tongue.”
“Why would I be afraid of a long tongue?” I asked.
“Oh, I don’t know,” he said, trying to sound terrifying. “You never know when I might lick you.”
I fell back on the bed laughing. “Well, if you’re not even going to try to work with me…”
Max whined, “I held in my giggles. I really don’t think you should send me away. Kids who reject five monsters in one night…”
“I did not reject five monsters tonight!” I interrupted. “My regular monster went fishing.”
“Fishing, eh? Maybe he just left because you are so picky. Fine, I’m out of here. But I wouldn’t expect another monster to not devour you.”
How was I ever going to get to sleep without my monster? I was surprised to hear more creaking under the bed—loud creaking with scratching. I thought no more monsters were going to appear tonight.
“Sorry I’m late, kid!”
“Woo! It was Gabe. I thought I would enjoy fishing, but I didn’t,” he explained. “Those fish scare too easily. No challenge at all. You, however, are challenging, my friend. You’re almost too old to be afraid of monsters. You keep me on my toes.”
“Ah, toes! A delicious snack!” The bed quivered as Gabe’s stomach rumbled with hunger.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to start the evening with an ominous puddle of drool.”
I peeked over the edge of the bed. Green ooze spread soundlessly from underneath. Then the bed trembled as Gabe unfurled his spiked tail. He was daring me to guess where he might pop up.
I shrieked. “So you had some substitute monsters tonight,” Gabe said, sharpening his claws on my bedpost. “Were you scared then?”
Gabe started tapping. I could tell he wanted to know if I still needed him. “No other monster can scare me like you.”
I giggled, diving under my covers and pulling them up tight. Through the blanket, I heard Gabe’s soft, comforting snorts. I knew it—we’re made for each other!
He growled when my blanket started to slip off the bed. I knew Gabe was ready to eat. “Now, if you could please stick out your foot,” he said, “I’d like to nibble your pinky.”
I yanked my blanket back up and scrunched my feet in so Gabe couldn’t get them. “No toes tonight, but you can have this,” I offered, pushing a pillow off the bed. I didn’t even hear it hit the floor.
Gabe was back. The ooze was perfect. Everything was back to normal. I shivered again. I’d be asleep in no time.
Don’t Ethan and Gabe make a great team? I hope you enjoyed our story today. See you next time!
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