The Little Bit Scary People
Written by Emily Jenkins; Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger

This book takes a humorous look at common social anxieties. With witty story-telling and humorous illustrations, Little Bit Scary People reinforces the idea that people shouldn’t be judged based on their looks.

Biographical Sketches:

Emily Jenkins was born in New York City and grew up in Cambridge, MA and Seattle, WA. She attended Vassar and Columbia. Emily is the author of several acclaimed books for children, including That New Animal, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Recipient.  Emily lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Alexandra Boiger was born and raised in Munich, Germany, where she studied graphic design and began a career in Feature Animation. This career moved her to Great Britain and eventually the United States, where she began illustrating books.  Alexandra lives with her husband and daughter in California.

Suggested Activities:

  1. As a writing activity, ask children to describe a real-life situation in which they were initially intimidated by someone and how they overcame it.
  2. Ask children to draw before and after pictures of someone who may have initially seemed scary and how that image changed after they got to know each other.
  3. As a group, make a top ten list of things that scare children and discuss.
  4. Research animals that seem scary (sharks, spiders, snakes, etc.) and dispel any myths about them.
  5. Make a list of what makes a person/fictional character seem scary and talk about why this is the case .
  6. Ask children to make self-portraits, exaggerating parts of their personality and/or looks that might seem scary to someone else.

Companion Books:

Allard, Harry.  Miss Nelson is Missing.  Sandpiper, 1985.
Emberley. Ed.  Go Away, Big Green Monster.  Little, Brown and Company, 1992.
Gackenback, Dick.  Harry and the Terrible Whatzit.  Sandpiper, 1984.
Howe, James.  The Monster Under the Bed.  Aladdin, 1990.
Mayer, Mercer.  There’s a Nightmare in My Closet.  Puffin, 1992.
Sendak, Maurice.  Where the Wild Things Are.  HarperCollins, 1988.
Willems, Mo. Leonardo the Terrible Monster. Hyperion Books CH, 2005.
Woodson, Jacqueline. The Other Side. Putnam Juvenile, 2001.

Books Written by Emily Jenkins:

Daffodil, illustrated by Tomek Bogacki.  Frances Foster, 2004.
Daffodil, Crocodile, illustrated by Tomek Bogacki.Frances Foster, 2006.
Love You When You Whine, illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier.  Frances Foster, 2006.
My Favorite Thing (According to Alberta), illustrated by AnnaLaura Cantone.Anne Schwartz, 2004.
The Secret Life of Billie’s Uncle Myron, co-authored by Len Jenkins.  Henry Holt BYR, 1996.
Skunkdog, illustrated by Pierre Pratt.Frances Foster, 2008.
Sugar Would Not Eat It, illustrated by Giselle Potter.Random House, 2009.
That New Animal, illustrated by Pierre Pratt.  Frances Foster, 2005.
Toy Dance Party, illustrated by Paul Zelinsky. Random House, 2008.

Books Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger:

MacDonald, Betty. Happy Birthday, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.  HarperCollins, 2007.
MacDonald, Betty. Hello, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.  HarperCollins, 2007.
MacDonald, Betty. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Magic.  HarperCollins, 2007.
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Roxie and the Hooligans. Atheneum, 2006.
Orgel, Davis. Doctor All-Knowing.  Atheneum, 2008.
Reichert, Amy.  While Mama Had a Quick Little Chat.  Antheneum, 2005.

Websites:
www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson294.shtml A collection of lesson plans centered on teaching tolerance.

www.splcenter.org/center/tt/teach.jsp A clearing-house of tolerance-related resources for students and teachers.

www.emilyjenkins.com Author’s website.

www.alexandraboiger.com: Illustrator’s website.