Stories for Growing
Cover of Leonardo the Terrible MonsterAges 3 to 6
Empathy

Leonardo the Terrible Monster

Mo Willems

Ages 3 to 6
About this age guidance

Kirkus and Publishers Weekly: 3–6

The age tag follows Kirkus: Leonardo the Terrible Monster. Other sources may suggest different ages. This is audience guidance, not an independent reading level.

Selected for friendship, acceptance, and empathy activities.

A monster sets out to frighten a vulnerable child, then changes course after listening to him.

Good forNoticing other people’s feelings

Recommended by Mama.Papa.Bubba.

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What children see in the story

Primary interpretation: empathy. Moments 3 and 4 connect understanding another person’s distress to a different response. Persistence at the initial goal would be the wrong lesson.

Why it’s on these shelves

Empathy
Leonardo, a monster who can’t frighten anyone, picks Sam as the child he can scare. When Sam explains he is crying over a miserable day, Leonardo changes his aim, hugs him and becomes his friend.

Why pick it up?

Friendship replaces the initial goal of frightening a smaller, vulnerable person.

A note for parents

Targeting a child is a substantial opening conflict, but the sourced ending rejects it. Do not describe the first half as admirable determination.

Where this recommendation comes from

Mama.Papa.Bubba.

Selected for friendship, acceptance, and empathy activities.

Read Jen’s recommendation
Sources and review status

We have checked source descriptions and drafted the value mapping. We have not personally reviewed the full book. The value labels, situation assignments, and parent notes remain provisional.

Publisher or literacy resource · Original recommendation

Our explanation of the value fit is separate from the original reviewer’s judgment. Their inclusion here does not imply an endorsement of Stories for Growing.

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