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My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I am Not) ISBN: 9781447257479
Brown, Peter
Published by Macmillan Children's Books, 2014
Bobby thinks his teacher, Miss Kirby, is a monster. She shouts and stomps and won't let him go out for play time when he throws a paper aeroplane in class. Furthermore, she is green with sharp teeth and what look to be claws where her hands should be. To Bobby's horror, he finds Miss Kirby sitting on a bench when he goes to the park one day: 'Bobby wanted to run! He wanted to hide! But he knew that would only make things worse.' So he sits down beside her and starts a conversation. At first they are both stiff with each other, but when Miss Kirby's hat blows off and Bobby saves it, they begin to thaw. They quack at the ducks together and climb to the top of a hill where Miss Kirby has a wonderful idea. Taking a paper from her bag, she gives it to Bobby who makes a paper aeroplane and flies it to the valley below. All the while, Miss Kirby's skin has been turning a normal colour, her teeth have become ordinary, and she actually has nice hands. Bobby has come to know her as a person, and she has come to know him as a rather delightful boy. Back at school, she still stomps and sometimes shouts, but it is only when Bobby throws another aeroplane that she becomes a monster again! This is such fun and really shows how easy it is to make perceptions of others that are quite untrue and unhelpful. The illustrations are huge fun as well, and it could be a really good book to have in school libraries.
Age: 6+