Use this Go Away Big Green Monster craft as an activity to talk to your child about things that are scary and make them fun.
While Halloween is generally considered a fun time of the season, it can also feel overwhelming and scary to our younger ones.
I know my sons can’t enter a Halloween shop thanks to the scary masks, ghoul outfits and tombstone decorations lurking about.
You can find this book (and others participating in this Halloween Read + Play blog hop) at your local library or purchase through the affiliate link provided for your convenience.
Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberly is a wonderful and inventive book that shows children they have the ability to conquer something that might be scary.
It teaches them they can erase the image and have power over what once scared them.
And the best thing… Go Away Big Green Monster is actually a fun book!
But it does open up the dialogue about things that go bump in the night and how we all can manage our fears.
In Go Away Big Green Monster, children turn cut-out pages to slowly build up the face of the monster.
Turn the page and the eyes are added.
Turn the next page and the nose is added.
But then, children tell the monster to GO AWAY!
They turn the page and they make the ears go away.
They make the mouth go away. Until they have made the monster completely disappear.
And then we tell the monster, “And don’t come back! Until I say so.”
Go Away Big Green Monster Description: Caldecott Award-winning author-artist Ed Emberley has created an ingenious way for children to chase away their nighttime fears.
Kids can turn the pages of this die-cut book and watch the Big Green Monster grow.
Then, when they’re ready to show him who’s in charge, they’ll turn the remaining pages and watch him disappear!
This lavish reissue features dramatic die-cut eyes and sparkling foil on the cover.
Go Away Big Green Monster Craft & Activity
We took the book one step further and created our own Go Away Big Green Monster craft.
We cut out our own Big Green Monster pieces and had fun putting together the face as well as taking it apart.
Materials:
- Construction paper (multiple colors)
- Scissors
- Glue Stick
- Black Marker
For this activity, you need to cut out eyes and draw in the pupils using a black marker.
Cut out a long nose, small ears, wiggly ears and mouth.
For the teeth, cut out white triangles and glue them on.
Now let your child tell the story using the pieces.
One by one, add them to the face.
And when she’s done, have her act out the part — “Go away wiggly hair. Go away long nose.” — until she has made the monster disappear.
If you really want to get creative, make a bunch of different types of noses, ears, eyes and whatnot and let your kiddo have fun making different goofy monsters.
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I remember as a child being scared at night. No matter what my mother did, showing me the empty closet/under the bed etc. I was always afraid. I love they have these books to help the kids cope.
Great idea – and I like your flexible take on it. My older guy has some anxiety and may try to wok this in somehow…
Thanks!
Thanks! It really is an approachable book… which is actually why I read it to my kiddo. He’s completely freaked out by much of Halloween and it was a good way to talk to him about his fears.
it will be a great help at home…my kids do feel scare about monsters…TFS..it was indeed a brilliant, fun idea..
Thanks! I hope the book and activity helps your kiddo out.
Cute craft!
such a helpful and thoughtful idea, and parents will so appreciate this information, perfect project for the story, too
Thanks, Carolyn. I created it because my son was freaked out by monsters. It was a way of helping him feel in control.