Benita and the Night Creatures / Benita y las criaturas nocturnas

Share this book

Benita’s passion for books and reading inspires the “night creatures” own interest in stories. Ask students to share what gets them excited about books and reading. What kinds of stories do they like to read and share? Based on what they learned about Cuco, Tunche, Supay, and Yanapuma in the back matter, what books would they recommend to each of these creatures?

Next, have students make some of their own reading magic! Benita read stories to the night creatures “about faraway places, brave monsters and humans, about rocket ships cruising in outer space and treasures in a treasure chest.” Have students use what they know about the stories Benita read aloud to write their own stories to share. They can write a story about a faraway place, brave monsters and humans, rocket ships, or treasures, or write one story that includes all these things. Students can illustrate their stories and read them aloud to each other and special guests at a publishing party for all their bedtime stories for monsters.

Questions for Discussion or Reflective Writing

1. Why do you think the night creatures want to scare Benita? Why do the night creatures fail at scaring her? Would you have been scared by Cuco, Tunche, Supay, and Yanapuma? Why or why not?
2. In the author’s note, Mariana Llanos talks about how she dealt with scary things in her childhood. Have you ever felt scared? What did you do with that feeling?
3. Have you ever been so into a book that nothing could distract you from it? What are some things that you get focused on and don’t want to have interrupted? 
4. How do books and stories help Benita and the night creatures become friends? Can you share a similar experience you’ve had with books in your own life?
5. Had you ever heard of Cuco, Tunche, Supay, and Yanapuma before? Does meeting them in this story make you curious about them and Peruvian folklore and culture? What would you like to learn more about?

Related Resources

Discussion Guide for Benita and the Night Creatures from Barefoot Books
Coloring Sheet for Benita and the Night Creatures from Barefoot Books
Book Trailer for Benita and the Night Creatures from Barefoot Books
Implementing the Writing Process from ReadWriteThink
How to Celebrate Student Writing with Publishing Parties from Children’s Literacy Initiative