Now and then I read a book with
illustrations that I think do the book a disservice. Below I’m featuring
one of those books and giving you ideas about using this book’s great
content in a different way.
Picture Book:
The Want Monsters: And How They Stopped
Ruling My World
Author & Illustrator: Chelo Manchego
Summary: Want Monsters just want to make people happy. The little guy in the illustration below explains that his Want Monster, Oskar, motivates him do GOOD things, but lately Oskar has gone a little crazy!
He wants four cupcakes, not one. The narrator gives in
and gets sick which leads to a lot of time in the bathroom! Oskar has grown some extra thumbs. He spends too much time playing games in front of a screen.
Oscar gives the boy a flower with a caterpillar in it; the boy asks the caterpillar if he too has a Want Monster.
The caterpillar explains that eating is already all he wants to do,
but that is the way of caterpillars so they can become butterflies.
He suggests that the boy tell Oskar "no."
That won't always work so just let "Oskar be Oskar."
Oskar tantrumed, the boy ignored, and both forgot about the want of ice cream. When the best video game ever, "Zombies Ate My Teachers" came out, both were happy.
But when "Zombies Ate My Teachers TWO" came out just 10 days later, Oskar insisted that another trip to the video store was in order.
The boy explained that you can have too much of a video game. Besides, new games come out all the time and don't keep them happy for very long.
Oskar tantrumed, but both eventually forgot about that particular want.
Hanna’s Comments: The ideas in this book offer great potential for
meaningful conversation with elementary-aged children about greed, gluttony,
anger, and difficult relationships. Convert this story into a simple play that
your kids act out. They will relate and be able to easily act out these emotions and respond to these situations. In fact, have your
children help you write the play. You might want to have some
of your girls help write a character who tells about how girls
struggle with Want Monsters. Expand it even further by including some of their
parents Want Monsters too! Be sure to cast kids for human and Want Monster characters. The
best learning happens when we are synthesizing information. That means we take various
aspects of what we have learned, combine, and make something new. Writing and
producing a play about this book might be a great tool for making a difference
in these issues that hit at the heart of modern family dynamics.
Original Publisher & Date: Shambhala, 2016
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: None at present
Scripture Connections: They tested God in their heart
by demanding the food they craved. (Psalm 78:18); A greedy man stirs up strife.
(Proverbs 28:25); Take care and be on your guard for covetousness, for one’s
life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. (Luke 12:15); You are
God’s holy temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17); Their god is their belly…with their minds set on
earthly things (Philippians 3:19); Keep your life free from love of money and
be content with what you have (Hebrews 13:5); Those who desire to be rich fall
into temptation…The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. (1 Timothy
6:9-10); The desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in
posessions – is not from God but is from the world. (1 John 2:16)
Idea(s) for Application: Use this book as a basis for a play that your
children act out. Connect the issues in this book to some of the many scripture
verses about greed and gluttony.
