Gorp the monster has got mold growing on his fur, and the Monster Ball is only a few days away. He seeks help from Zoey, who’s learning to be a magical-animal veterinarian like her mom. Zoey uses the scientific method to cure him, and Gorp goes to the ball mold-free!
Monsters and Mold
Discuss the Book
The Moldy-Fur Problem
Prologue Chapter 4
- Important Moment: Gorp wants to go to the Monster Ball for the first time, but he’s embarrassed about mold on his fur. Zoey gives him a towel and tells him he just needs to dry his damp fur before going to sleep in his warm cave.
- Ask and Share: Why is Gorp upset? What is Zoey’s solution? Have you ever been embarrassed about something? Did being embarrassed keep you from doing something you wanted to do?
Time to Run an Experiment
Chapters 5–8
- Important Moment: When Zoey’s first solution doesn’t work, she feels bad. She tells an upset Gorp that they’ll try other solutions. Then she experiments, putting pieces of Gorp’s fur in bags with different preservatives from her kitchen.
- Ask and Share: How does Zoey feel when a still-moldy Gorp returns? What does she do next? Would you keep trying to help Gorp? Why or why not?
Preservatives Prevent Mold
Chapters 9–11
- Important Moment: Zoey learns that salt, vinegar, and sugar all keep mold from growing on the fur in the bags. She has more sugar in the house than anything else, so she puts it directly on Gorp.
- Ask and Share: What does Zoey learn about preservatives and mold? Which preservative does she put on Gorp, and why? Is this the one you would choose? Why or why not?
The Perfect Solution
Chapters 12–13
- Important Moment: After making Gorp’s fur sticky with sugar—which attracts bugs—Zoey tries vinegar mixed with yummy-smelling peppermint. Gorp smells great and has fun at the ball. He brings Zoey a photo and a bouquet to thank her.
- Ask and Share: What goes wrong with the sugar? What ends up being the best solution to Gorp’s problem? How does Gorp thank Zoey? How would you thank Zoey for all her hard work?