Ten Birds Meet a Monster

After wandering down a hall and discovering a scattered assortment of clothes, ten birds were shocked to spot a scary monster! What were they to do? Grabbing a piece of clothing as a disguise, “the first bird, always inventive, became a Vicious Polka-dactyl. But the monster didn't budge.” So the second bird, then the third bird, and so on, followed in turn, each adding some clothing to the mix to devise a new, frightening creature. But no matter that the birds were “resourceful,” “attentive,” “creative” and “eager to participate,” or that they created fantastically scary beings such as a Gnashing Grapplesaurus, a Bristling Fang-Mangler and a Slimy Long-toed Zapper --- the monster would not be chased away. Until the tenth bird stepped forward, the one who was “always easily distracted.” Could this be the bird who finally, and surprisingly, saved the day? This gorgeous picture book by award-winning author-illustrator Cybèle Young is perfect for counting and early numeracy lessons. Each of the numbers from one to ten gets its own spread, featuring two pieces of intricately detailed pen-and-ink illustrations. The smaller illustration incorporates the numeral into the drawing itself, while the larger one offers the opportunity to search for and count all the birds within the growing clothes monster. Filled with silliness, suspense and a terrific reveal at the end, this clever, funny story is also a wonderful read-aloud. It highlights how individual resourcefulness and creativity are magnified by the power of cooperation and teamwork.