Read Aloud Hall of Fame #16: SUBSTITUTE CREATURE by Chris Gall
You need a book. A can’t miss book. A read aloud that will cast a wide net and pull everyone in. This is the idea behind The 100 Scope Notes Read Aloud Hall of Fame.
In each post I’ll share a read aloud that has never let me down. Some will be obvious and popular. Others lesser-known. All will be story time gold.
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Click here to see all the Read Aloud Hall of Fame inductees.
Substitute Creacher by Chris Gall
If you’re unfamiliar, allow me to introduce you to Substitute Creacher, the perfect October book. One that incorporates A) School, B) Halloween, and C) a Monster who is not what he seems.
The teacher is out, and the class is looking forward to a day of no rules – until they see the substitute: a massive green tentacled monster with eyes in the back of his head and tales to tell. The substitute creacher tells stories of unruly students who had their comeuppance until the closer: a child who stole Halloween candy and was turned into a monster as punishment. Spoiler Alert: It’s the substitute creacher.
Slightly spooky and featuring a satisfying twist ending, I find that readers are always drawn into this story. I return to it every year.
Filed under: Read Aloud Hall of Fame
About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
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