Are you seeking a fun, spooky reading and writing activity to engage your students during October? The weeks leading to Halloween can be a haunting time as you compete for your students’ attention among the celebrations, candy, and chaos, but do not fear! We have found some adorably spooktacular picture books about Frankenstein and a thrilling matching writing craftivity that will make your classroom into a funhouse of learning!
Frankenstein Picture Books
Monsters and ghosts are the sort of creepy fun that engages students, so Frankenstein is adorably kooky enjoyment, too. These Frankenstein picture books are eerie-sistible and just perfect reading before a fa-boo-lous Frankenstein activity!
That Monster on the Block by Sue-Ganz Schmitt, Illustrated by Luke Flowers
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Monster is excited to see what kind of creature will move into Vampire’s old house on the block. He even starts practicing his welcome growl for the new neighbor. But when the moving truck pulls up, it’s not a greedy goblin, an ogre, or a dastardly dragon that steps out. Instead, it’s something even more terrifying than Monster could have imagined! Monster quickly rallies the other neighbors to unite against the new guy on the block. But what if the new neighbor isn’t exactly as bad as Monster thinks? Join Monster as he confronts his fears in this charming and lighthearted look at what it means to accept others who are different from us.
Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance by Keith Graves
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Shake, rattle, and roll with Frank, a music-loving monster who just wants to dance! Kids will thrill to this rollicking rhyming tale that features awesome illustrations, a few gross-out surprises, and a whole lot of fun! Frank was a monster who wanted to dance. So he put on his hat and his shoes made in France . . . and opened a jar and put ants in his pants! So begins this monstrously funny, deliciously disgusting, horrifyingly hilarious story of a monster who follows his dream. Keith Graves’ wacky illustrations and laugh-out-loud text will tickle the funny bone and leave readers clamoring for an encore.
Crankenstein by Samantha Berger, Illustrated by Dan Santat
Publisher’s Synopsis:
BEWARE OF CRANKENSTEIN! He’s a little monster of crankiness that no one can destroy! MEHHRRRR!!! He may look like any ordinary boy, but when faced with a rainy day, a melting popsicle, or an early bedtime, one little boy transforms into a mumbling, grumbling Crankenstein. When Crankenstein meets his match in a fellow Crankenstein, the results could be catastrophic–or they could be just what he needs to brighten his day! This hilarious and relatable tale of grumpiness gone awry will turn toddler tantrums to giggles in no time.
Trick or Treat Crankenstein by Samantha Berger, Illustrated by Dan Santat
Publisher’s Synopsis:
This year, Crankenstein’s favorite day of all—Halloween—has gone rotten! Creepy-cool costumes, super-scary jack-o’-lanterns, and loads of candy have been RUINED by costume disasters, pumpkin-carving nightmares, and a terribly untimely toothache! MEHHRRRR!!! Can Halloween be saved, or will today turn into the crankiest Halloween in history? Samantha Berger’s beloved “crankster” character confronts all the wicked tricks and treats of Halloween in this bucket full of laughs, illustrated by bestselling, award-winning artist Dan Santat.
Frankencrayon by Michael Hall
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Ingenuity and surprise rule in this funny and colorful companion to Red: A Crayon’s Story, written and illustrated by Michael Hall, the New York Times–bestselling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo. The crayons are ready to tell the thrilling tale of Frankencrayon. The costumes are made, the roles are cast, the pages are all set—but then disaster strikes. Someone has scribbled on the page! Hideous! Horrifying! The story can’t go on! Try as they might, the crayons can’t erase the scribble, and this picture book must be canceled. Until the crayons playing the title role of Frankencrayon think of a solution, that is. Michael Hall breaks borders and invites readers behind the scenes with his irresistible, clever style and bold artwork. A book about seeing beauty in unexpected places and the magic of storytelling.
The Monsters’ Monster by Patrick McConnell
Publisher’s Synopsis:
A cheeky monster story with a Zen-themed twist about appreciating the small joys that life has to offer, from Caldecott Honor winner and MUTTS comic creator Patrick McDonnell. Once upon a time, there were three little rascals who thought they were the BIGGEST, BADDEST monsters around. Then along came an even BIGGER monster who changed their minds. And all it took was two little words…”Thank you!” In this playful tale from bestselling picture book author Patrick McDonnell, a very BIG monster shows three very BAD little monsters the power of boundless gratitude.
Frankenstein Doesn’t Wear Earmuffs by John Loren
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Nothing ruins the perfect scary costume like a pair of earmuffs! Families will laugh along with this Halloween picture book. A young trick-or-treater has the best Frankenstein costume ever…if he can make it out the front door! Every time he tries to set foot into the dark and stormy night, his overly concerned parents interrupt with yet another warm and cozy addition to his costume. But Frankenstein does not wear floppy boots, or a puffy jacket, or a fanny pack. And he especially doesn’t wear earmuffs! Will our young Frankenstein be able to break loose from his bundled layers and have the Halloween of his dreams?
Frankenstein Writing Craftivity
Frankenstein Doesn’t Wear Earmuffs by John Loren inspired our latest writing resource. In this book, the main character gets frustrated when his parents try to dress him in all sorts of cold-weather layers on a blustery Halloween night. All the added clothes cramp the main character’s style as he tries to be a fierce Frankenstein, until he realizes all of his friends are dressed in layers too, with their ghoulish costumes.
After reading this story to my five-year-old, she had the brilliant idea of drawing a Frankenstein wearing a ballerina costume, because, according to her, if she were a monster, that’s what she would dress up as for Halloween.
The idea was born! Students can choose a printed Frankenstein boy or Bride of Frankenstein girl and mix and match a variety of costume pieces to create their own Halloween-themed Frankenstein.
Next, students choose to either write a descriptive piece about how they dressed up their Frankenstein, or they can place their Frankenstein character in a narrative story, Furthermore, they can even write a neat combination of the two. We have supplied all that you need for your students to complete this writing activity:
What’s Included:
- Brainstorming Organizer
- Character Description and Setting Organizers
- Problem & Solution Map
- Plot Line Map
- Story Map
- Sensory Words Organizer
- Figurative Language Organizer
- Outlines
- Story Examples
- Frankenstein Publishing Papers
- Frankenstein Boy & Bride of Frankenstein Girl
- Various Costumes
Bring creativity (and a little monster magic) into your classroom this Halloween! This engaging resource blends art, writing, and imagination as students design and describe their very own costumed Frankenstein characters. With both print-and-go and digital options included, it’s perfect for whole-group lessons, centers, or early finishers. Your students will love crafting their spooky masterpieces, and you’ll love watching their descriptive and narrative writing skills come alive!
Conclusion
Bring some monster-sized creativity to your classroom this October with our Frankenstein Writing Craftivity! Pair it with one of these fantastic Frankenstein picture books to inspire students as they design, describe, and write about their own costumed Frankenstein characters. This engaging blend of art and writing helps students practice descriptive and narrative skills while having a frightfully fun time. It’s an eerie-sistible way to keep learning alive all Halloween season!
