Monster Boogie

PreS—This is an energetic adaptation of a song by Berkner. The story line is simple—a monster shows up in a child's room at night but instead of being scary, he wants to dance. The creature invites everyone to dance, including readers. The text is simple and repetitive. It includes color words that young readers will enjoy pointing to. Clanton's artwork is vividly colored and is so exuberant, the monster seems to come right off the page. Kids will identify with the feeling of being scared by monsters and hopefully transfer the confidence of being able to dance with them rather than being afraid. Adults would do well to search for videos of Berkner performing her song, which will help with appreciating its cadence and rhythm. This book would make an enjoyable storytime selection with extensions that could include singing the song and making crafts.