John Lewis 2017 - Moz The Monster

This is the story of a little boy called Joe who befriends a noisy monster under his bed.  

Teaching ideas​
  • Describe Moz the Monster using various language features such as expanded noun phrases, similes etc. 
  • Ask children to create their own under the bed monster. 
  • Discuss the use of language that would be needed to describe a friendly monster and how this would contrast when describing a fierce, scary monster. 
  • Create a diary entry describing the key points in the film. 
  • Write a letter to Moz from Joe to thank him for his gift. 
  • Design a Christmas present for a monster. 
  • Write a narrative to describe how Moz came to Joe's bedroom.  
  • Write a recount from Moz's point of view. 
  • Write a monster lullaby


We have created some VIPERS comprehension questions to aid discussion around the film. 
Find out more about VIPERS here www.literacyshedblog.com/vipers
 Pause the film at 11 seconds.
  • What do you think the boy was thinking? (I)
  • How is the boy feeling? (I)
Pause the film at 20 seconds.
  • What is the boy thinking now? (I)
  • What do you think he will write on the poster? (P)
  • Use a thesaurus to find words to describe a fierce monster. (V)
Pause the film at 50 seconds.
  • Explain what has changed. (E)
  • Would the language used to describe the monster change? (V) (E)
  • Why is the boy so tired? (E) (R)
  • What do you think will happen next? (P)
Pause the film at 1 min 20 seconds.
  • What do these people think about Joe falling asleep?
  • Dad
  • Sister
  • Moz the monster
Pause the film at 1 min 25 seconds.
  • What do you think will happen next? (P)
Pause the film at 1 minute 38 seconds.
  • Who do you think sent the gift? (P) (I)
  • What makes you think this? (E)
  • Does Joe’s Mum know who sent the gift? (I) Explain why you think this. (E)

At the end of the film.
  • Why do you think Joe was given the star light? (E) (S)
  • Do you think the monster was real? Why do you think this? (E) (S)
  • Do you think ‘For Gifts That Brighten Their World’ is an effective title for this advertisement?  Why?  (S) (E) (V) 
Download an editable version of these questions here

Create your own monster here 

Nosy Crow have also published a book of the story which you can hear here being read by Sally Phillips. 
You can also see it on youtube here 

Visit the John Lewis Moz the Monster page by clicking here