The Café at the Edge of the Woods: questions to ask and activities to try
Welcome to the Café at the Edge of the Woods, if you dare! A prize-winning, delightfully grotesque rhyming picture book full of giggles.
What age is it for? The Café at the Edge of the Woods is best for ages 3–7. Good for: A spooky-funny rhyming tale about a strange café.
The Café at the Edge of the Woods (Mikey Please)
- Age
- 3-7
- Best for
- A spooky-funny rhyming tale about a strange café
Read it with relish and enjoy the gross details. Spooky-funny books are a safe way to enjoy being a little bit scared.
What it helps with
- Rhyme and rhythm
- Spooky-but-safe humour
- Looking closely at detailed pictures
- Food and imagination
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Who ran the café?”
- “Who came to eat?”
- “What was the grossest thing on the menu?”
- “What happened at the end?”
- “Would you eat there?”
- “What would be on your café menu?”
5-minute activities to try together
Gross menu
Write a menu of disgusting dishes for monsters.
Café play
Set up a play café and take orders.
Free printables: The Café at the Edge of the Woods worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
Free. We’ll only email you if you tick the box.
If your child liked this, try
Funnybones (Janet and Allan Ahlberg)
- Best for
- A funny-not-scary classic about skeletons
- Age
- 3-7
Meg and Mog (Helen Nicoll and Jan Pieńkowski)
- Best for
- A witch, her cat and a spell gone wrong
- Age
- 2-6
A Dark, Dark Tale (Ruth Brown)
- Best for
- A spooky story with a gentle surprise
- Age
- 3-6
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.