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43rd out of 348 books
—
346 voters
Leonardo, the Terrible Monster
by
Mo Willems
Leonardo is truly a terrible monster-terrible at being a monster that is. No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to frighten anyone. Determined to succeed, Leonardo sets himself to training and research. Finally, he finds a nervous little boy, and scares the tuna salad out of him! But scaring people isn't quite as satisfying as he thought it would be. Leonardo realizes...more
Hardcover, 48 pages
Published
September 1st 2005
by Disney-Hyperion
(first published August 2nd 2005)
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I have been reading Mo Willems’ books for a long time and I have recently stumbled upon his book called “Leonardo the Terrible Monster!” “Leonardo the Terrible Monster” is a children’s book by Mo Willems which is about a small monster named Leonardo who tries to be a scary monster, but cannot do so effectively, so he tries to find a child that he could easily scare. “Leonardo the Terrible Monster” is a truly brilliant book that children everywhere will easily love for many years!
Leonardo was a t...more
Leonardo was a t...more
8 likes · like · see review
view all 6 comments
Picture book - fantasy
For preschool-primary grades
Leonardo is a terrible monster - he's just not scary enough! He finds a scaredy-cat kid to frighten, but ends up with a friend instead.
Who can resist Mo Willem's charms as an illustrator? With a few simple lines, he gives us Leonardo, a monster who teaches us both meanings of the word terrible. Instead of being scary-terrible, he's just terrible at being a monster. Leonardo is perhaps the most adorable and amusing monster in fiction, but he longs...more
For preschool-primary grades
Leonardo is a terrible monster - he's just not scary enough! He finds a scaredy-cat kid to frighten, but ends up with a friend instead.
Who can resist Mo Willem's charms as an illustrator? With a few simple lines, he gives us Leonardo, a monster who teaches us both meanings of the word terrible. Instead of being scary-terrible, he's just terrible at being a monster. Leonardo is perhaps the most adorable and amusing monster in fiction, but he longs...more
Leonardo is terrible at being a terrible monster. He cannot scare anyone. He goes on the search for the most scaredy-cat kid...will he be able to scare him?
I borrowed the CD from the library which features Mo Willems narrating the story. His voice had my son and I rolling on the floor with laughter. Great message, great illustrations, great delivery, great book!
I borrowed the CD from the library which features Mo Willems narrating the story. His voice had my son and I rolling on the floor with laughter. Great message, great illustrations, great delivery, great book!
1 like · like · see review
I am a huge Mo Willams fan, and this book, while not his best work, doesn't disappoint. My boys love this book because of all the silly monsters in it. I like it because it's a cute story.
1 like · like · see review
When I read the title of this book written and illustrated by Mo Willems, I was not sure what kind of monster Leonardo would be. It turned out that this little monster was not scary at all and could not scare anyone because he wasn’t big, weird, or full of teeth like the other monsters. Tired of failing, Leonardo decided to do research to find “the most scaredy-cat kid” and scare him to tears. However, Leonardo ends up finding Sam, a little boy who has no friends, and sees that he is much better...more
I bought this book for my niece and nephew for Christmas. I wanted to read it before I mailed it off.
Leonard, the Terrible Monster is about a monster named Leonardo that isn't very good at scaring people. So he decides to find the biggest scaredy-cat kid and scare him.
It's a cute story, definitely, but the font was a big distraction for me. I'm really into fonts, and by that I mean I need a font that I like or can at least tolerate for a book to be at least enjoyable for me. Fonts are a big fact...more
Leonard, the Terrible Monster is about a monster named Leonardo that isn't very good at scaring people. So he decides to find the biggest scaredy-cat kid and scare him.
It's a cute story, definitely, but the font was a big distraction for me. I'm really into fonts, and by that I mean I need a font that I like or can at least tolerate for a book to be at least enjoyable for me. Fonts are a big fact...more
"Leonardo was a terrible monster. He couldn't scare anyone." He didn't have a lot of teeth, he wasn't a giant, and he wasn't just plain weird. Leonardo decided to do all kinds of research to "find the most scaredy-cat kid in the whole world." Who he found was Sam. Leonardo gave it all he had and Sam started to cry. Leonardo was satisfied that he finally scared the "tuna salad" out of someone. Sam informed him that he wasn't scared but that he was having a really bad day because of his mean older...more
After we read "Don't Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus," I knew that I had to read more of Mo Willems' work. I loved the way the illustrations in his book seem simple, but manage to include lots of things that complement the words on the page. I also think his books have some of my favorite "page-turns."
The title character in "Leonardo, The Terrible Monster" has a serious problem. Well, it's a serious problem if you're a monster: he just isn't thats scary. Unlike some of the other monsters, who have...more
The title character in "Leonardo, The Terrible Monster" has a serious problem. Well, it's a serious problem if you're a monster: he just isn't thats scary. Unlike some of the other monsters, who have...more
Jun 29, 2010
Jonathan
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
picture-2011-monarch
The plot of this book is simple and elegant and the illustrations are amazing.
One of the things I like about the Mo Willems 'Pigeon' books is the idea of unrealistic expectations. Pigeon is the ultimate kid because he is impetuous, visceral and full of wants. Often these expectations or desires are unrealistic (like many kids 3-7). In the end though, there is nothing wrong with the wanting as long as you can be happy with who you are and what you have.
This, for me, was the theme for Leonardo. W...more
One of the things I like about the Mo Willems 'Pigeon' books is the idea of unrealistic expectations. Pigeon is the ultimate kid because he is impetuous, visceral and full of wants. Often these expectations or desires are unrealistic (like many kids 3-7). In the end though, there is nothing wrong with the wanting as long as you can be happy with who you are and what you have.
This, for me, was the theme for Leonardo. W...more
Leonardo, the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems tells the story of a very young monster who is terrible at being a monster, because he can't scare anyone.
Leonardo wasn't big, didn't have hundreds of teeth, wasn't weird and
just wasn't scary. Leonardo researches until he finds the most timid boy to scare: Sam. He works hard until Sam cries. When Leonardo celebrates having scared someone, Sam tells Leonardo all the troubles that made Sam finally cry, including not having any friends. Leonardo makes...more
Leonardo wasn't big, didn't have hundreds of teeth, wasn't weird and
just wasn't scary. Leonardo researches until he finds the most timid boy to scare: Sam. He works hard until Sam cries. When Leonardo celebrates having scared someone, Sam tells Leonardo all the troubles that made Sam finally cry, including not having any friends. Leonardo makes...more
"Leondardo the Terrible Monster" tells the story of Leonardo. Who is a little monster that is not very good and scary people. He tries and tries, however, no one takes him seriously since he isnt that big and doesn't have very many teeth. Finally, he decides to research the perfect candidate to scare and comes up with a little boy named Sam. When he comes across Sam he jumps out and scares him and the little boy starts to cry. At first, Leonardo feels triumphant as he finally scared someone. How...more
This is a great story about a little monster who can't seem to scare anyone. So he researches the biggest scaredy cats in the world and finds a perfect little boy to scare. But he finds out that, while he might not be very good at scaring, there is something he is good at. It's a fun story to read aloud, and the pictures are very simple, but expressive. Our girls really enjoyed this story.
1 like · like · see review
I'm afraid I just may be the only person not a fan of
Mo Willems
. Just like good old
Shel Silverstein
, he just doesn't impress me. Or my daughter to a lesser extent. Had I seen that this was by Willems I probably wouldn't have even brought it home honestly. That being said, it isn't as bad as
City Dog, Country Frog
.
The artwork with the monsters is the best part of the book and nothing beautiful could be said about that. They're okay but they looked slopped together. Like Willems knew no one...more
The artwork with the monsters is the best part of the book and nothing beautiful could be said about that. They're okay but they looked slopped together. Like Willems knew no one...more
Dec 04, 2010
Lisa Vegan
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
especially good for children who are afraid of monsters
Recommended to Lisa by:
Kathryn
This is a cute book about a monster, Leonardo, who is terrible at being a monster; he can’t scare anybody. So, he does his research to find the one kid (named Sam) who he’ll be most likely to be able to scare, and goes to do that. After his attempt, he ends up changing his plans. It was very predictable (for this adult) but it was sweet.
This is a good book for young children, with very few words on all pages except for one double page spread where there are a lot of words, and in a color a bit h...more
This is a good book for young children, with very few words on all pages except for one double page spread where there are a lot of words, and in a color a bit h...more
PB 16: I thought this book was a fantastic way to get children excited about reading while teaching new vocabulary (such as words like “candidate”) among a plot line that children can follow. I appreciated the emphasis on certain words by presenting them in a different color or larger font sizes on the page. By doing so, he introduced different expressions through words and the facial expression of characters. This story resonated with me because the fact that the monster wasn’t scary as he was...more
How whimsical to focus on how tough it is to be an ineffective and unimposing monster (while really wrestling with the difficulty of being yourself), especially for kids with their peers. Even Leonardo's scheme to ambush the unsuspecting Sam goes awry when, instead of "scaring the tuna salad out of him," unleashes tears and a litany of all his woes - quite a pile, too. Willem's crafting of Leonardo's facial expressions and bodily postures is very precise, making the book even more accessible. An...more
Mo Willems is one of my favorite children's authors. His sense of humor and voice shine through in the lively text and illustrations of this book. Leonardo is a monster who feels inadequate with his inability to scare anyone... until he meets a jumpy little boy named Sam. Leonardo's ultimate goal is to scare the TUNA SALAD out of someone.
I love reading this book aloud to kids and showing them the fantastic illustrations with great detail. I love Willems' usage of page space in his illustrations...more
I love reading this book aloud to kids and showing them the fantastic illustrations with great detail. I love Willems' usage of page space in his illustrations...more
My family loves Mo Willems books and this book is no exception. Leonardo the Terrible Monster is a cute story that will warm your heart at the end.
Leonardo is a terrible monster. He can't scare "the tuna fish" out of anyone. So he sits down and does research to find someone he can scare. He finds Sam, a sad little boy who is lonely. Leonardo tries to scare him but then realizes how sad Sam is. The book comes to a heart warming close as Leonardo decides that if he can't be a terrible monster he...more
Leonardo is a terrible monster. He can't scare "the tuna fish" out of anyone. So he sits down and does research to find someone he can scare. He finds Sam, a sad little boy who is lonely. Leonardo tries to scare him but then realizes how sad Sam is. The book comes to a heart warming close as Leonardo decides that if he can't be a terrible monster he...more
Nov 30, 2011
Kara Roberts
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
monsters,
fear,
fiction,
folklore,
folktale,
friends,
heart-felt,
infant,
light-humor,
picture-book,
problem-solving,
progress,
relationships
Caldecott Honor winner Mo Willems creates another outstanding picture book, this time starring a wannabe "terrible monster" who switches gears after his mission to scare an unsuspecting boy doesn't work. With simple text and uncomplicated illustrations that capture kids' emotions perfectly, Willems's story offers monster-sized giggles while teaching about understanding and friendship. It's a can't-miss addition to your child's bookshelf.
I have read many books this semester, and this is my favor...more
I have read many books this semester, and this is my favor...more
I feel like going on a Mo Willems bender and reading all of the books of his that I can get my hands on. He is so great, and this book is no exception. It reminded me a bit of Lamont the Lonely Monster, which is my most favorite children's book ever. As usual, Willems' drawings are perfect for the story, the story is cute and funny, and it's sweet without being too sweet. This story of a terrible, unscary monster learning to become a good friend is sure to be a hit at story times!
We love many of Mo Willems' books at our house, but Leonardo is one of our favorites. Willems has created this delightful monster who is horrible at being a monster. He is just not scary. He decides to find the easiest target possible and picks on a tiny little boy at the worst possible moment. Leonardo finds it in himself to accept who he is and become a friend to this little boy. Humorous and beautifully simplistic illustrations that are Willems' trademark grace these pages and make this more...more
This is such an adorable book. Leonardo wants to be a scary monster, but no one seems to be phased by him. He decides to try and scare the most scaredy-cat kid in his class, Sam. He tries to scare him and Sam cries, but to Leonardo's surprise, he cries for other reasons; not because Leonardo scared him. In the end, Leonardo decides that instead of trying to be the scariest monster that he would just try to be the best friend Sam could have.
I love the illustrations in this book and the story crac...more
I love the illustrations in this book and the story crac...more
This book is on my top five! It was about a little monster who couldn't scare anyone. He found a little boy who he thought he would scare. So when he attempted the little boy started crying. It turns out that the little boy had a lot more than being wrong with him than being scared. So instead of scaring people, Leonardo found something better to do.
I think I would use this book in the classroom as a way to show children that just because your not good at one thing, you could always keep trying...more
I think I would use this book in the classroom as a way to show children that just because your not good at one thing, you could always keep trying...more
We have been conducting an author study of Mo Willems to encourage independent reading (the stories are engaging), and to prompt discussions on expressive writing. After reading this and several other Mo Willems books with voice dramatization, I have noticed a significant increase in independent reading and the use of exclamation marks in their writing. I only give it 4 stars out of 5, because I do not consider the characters ideal role models for peaceful behavior. However, it gets kids to read...more
Poor Leonardo just cannot scare the tuna salad out of anyone. He researches and finally finds someone who he can scare: Sam. Sam's been having a rough day (or week, or even month) and cries when Leonardo scares him. They end up talking about it and Leonardo makes a very big decision. He decides to be Sam's friend. In the end, they are friends, but that doesn't stop Leonardo from trying to scare Sam every once in a while.
After Caitlin read this in class, Sam and I just had to get it from the libr...more
After Caitlin read this in class, Sam and I just had to get it from the libr...more
I'm basically passionately in love with Mo Willems. I don't know how he manages to write books that kids find interesting and adults find funny, but he does. I read this book in three successive story times, and due to the large engaging pictures paired with sparse, spot on text, I had three rapt audiences. I also got big, genuine laughs from the adult portion of the audience every time I read the only that's dense with text. So thank you Mo, for making my morning easier.
Title: Leonardo the Terrible Monster
Author: Mo Willems
Copyright: 2005
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Reviewer: Ms. Terk's class
Summary: This is a book about Leonardo, a monster who couldn’t scare anyone. He researched for a scaredy-cat to scare. Leonardo is yellowish-green.
Review: Most of us liked this book a lot, because it was funny. The illustrations helped tell the story. This would be a good book for younger kids, or fans of Mo Willems.
Author: Mo Willems
Copyright: 2005
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Reviewer: Ms. Terk's class
Summary: This is a book about Leonardo, a monster who couldn’t scare anyone. He researched for a scaredy-cat to scare. Leonardo is yellowish-green.
Review: Most of us liked this book a lot, because it was funny. The illustrations helped tell the story. This would be a good book for younger kids, or fans of Mo Willems.
I ordered this book for Caleb for Christmas without every having read it before. If you know me, you know this kind of scenario makes me very nervous; however, this book ended up being fantastic! Caleb loves that it's about a monster, Emily loves that she can read it, Elinor loves the story, and I love that it has such a great message. The kids laugh out loud at the silliness and the illustrations. I think this is one of Mo Willems' best. We love Leonardo.
PB 10. Leonardo is so endearing. This reminds me of "The Monster at the End of this Book". Kids are afraid of monsters, and I think this presents another not scary- but rather hilarious- monster. Another Mo Willems masterpiece, this book is wonderful to both children and adults alike. Leonardo's forlorn attempts to scare someone are so wonderfully ineffective and children love it. He is loveably inept. This book would make for a HILARIOUS read aloud.
This book is absolutely hilarious to me. There is a monster name Leonardo who is very determined to scare someone. After trying a couple of times, and I mean trying, he finally finds his target, Sam. I would definitely use this book to talk about emotions with my students. It is soooo funny when the little boy Sam runs down the whole list of things that made him cry. Mo Willems did excellent with this comedic story.
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#1 New York Times Bestselling author and illustrator Mo Willems is best known for his Caldecott Honor winning picture books Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Knuffle Bunny: a cautionary tale.
In addition to such picture books as Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct, and Time to Pee, Mo has created the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of early r...more
More about Mo Willems...
In addition to such picture books as Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct, and Time to Pee, Mo has created the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of early r...more
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