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Five Little Monkeys
Five Little Monkeys Trick-or-Treat
“Another winner in the further adventures of the familiar five.” — School Library Journal Five little monkeys dress up for Halloween. They are going trick-or-treating with their favorite babysitter, Lulu. “Don’t lose the rascals!” Mama tells her. But soon those mischievous monkeys meet their friends and decide to try “the best Halloween trick ever!” Will Lulu be fooled? Or will those rascals get tricked by their own monkey business?
Vibrant, silly, and perfect for reading aloud, this non-scary Halloween board book is sure to delight fans of this best-selling series.
Vibrant, silly, and perfect for reading aloud, this non-scary Halloween board book is sure to delight fans of this best-selling series.
36 pages, Board Book
First published August 13, 2013
1 person is currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Eileen Christelow
76 books51 followersEileen Christelow is an acclaimed American author and illustrator of children’s books, best known for her beloved Five Little Monkeys series. Beginning with Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, a playful retelling of the classic nursery rhyme, the series has captivated generations of young readers with its humor and rhythmic storytelling. Over the course of her career, Christelow has published more than 30 books, encompassing both fiction and nonfiction, and many inspired by her surroundings in Vermont, her family life, and even her dog, Emma.
Born in Washington, D.C. in 1943, Christelow spent her formative years in Connecticut and briefly in Japan, where she attended the American School in Tokyo. She studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, a discipline that would influence her later work in design and illustration. After working for several years as a freelance photographer, she turned her focus to writing and illustrating picture books while raising her daughter in California. Her earliest works, Henry and the Red Stripes and Mr. Murphy’s Marvelous Invention, were published by Clarion Books in the early 1980s.
Christelow’s books often celebrate storytelling, curiosity, and mischief, appealing to children and educators alike. Titles like What Do Authors Do?, What Do Illustrators Do?, and Vote! provide engaging nonfiction content for young readers, while others such as Letters From a Desperate Dog and The Great Pig Escape draw on humorous real-life scenarios. Her works have received numerous accolades and several Five Little Monkeys titles have been translated into Spanish and Chinese.
She continues to live and work in East Dummerston, Vermont, in a home designed by her husband, where she draws inspiration from the natural beauty of the state. Christelow remains a cherished voice in children’s literature, with a lasting legacy of entertaining and educating young readers.
Born in Washington, D.C. in 1943, Christelow spent her formative years in Connecticut and briefly in Japan, where she attended the American School in Tokyo. She studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, a discipline that would influence her later work in design and illustration. After working for several years as a freelance photographer, she turned her focus to writing and illustrating picture books while raising her daughter in California. Her earliest works, Henry and the Red Stripes and Mr. Murphy’s Marvelous Invention, were published by Clarion Books in the early 1980s.
Christelow’s books often celebrate storytelling, curiosity, and mischief, appealing to children and educators alike. Titles like What Do Authors Do?, What Do Illustrators Do?, and Vote! provide engaging nonfiction content for young readers, while others such as Letters From a Desperate Dog and The Great Pig Escape draw on humorous real-life scenarios. Her works have received numerous accolades and several Five Little Monkeys titles have been translated into Spanish and Chinese.
She continues to live and work in East Dummerston, Vermont, in a home designed by her husband, where she draws inspiration from the natural beauty of the state. Christelow remains a cherished voice in children’s literature, with a lasting legacy of entertaining and educating young readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
September 25, 2019
We giggled all the way through two readings. It’s that cute!
November 4, 2013
Five Little Monkeys Trick-or-Treat” is a fun story about five young monkeys who go trick-or-treating with their baby sitter Lulu while Mama waits at home. First, they are dressed as a banana, an alien, a ghost, a princess and a goblin until the alien decides to change costumes with his friend, the bunny.
Eventually all of the children have changed costumes with their friends, and Lulu heads for home with the wrong children. But she knowingly says, “We have to get home for a big Halloween treat,” so they are followed by the original monkeys in their new costumes. After the change artists have been taken inside, the monkeys ring the doorbell and call, “Trick-or-treat, Mama!” She tells them her monkeys are already inside, causing tears to begin to fall, until she opens the door wide and invites them in as well.
Lulu has the perfect treat for tricksters: eyeball cookies and worm juice. Recipes for these specialties are included on the back endpaper.
The author’s humorous pen-and-ink illustrations with digital coloring have a warm, cartoony feel, just right for ages 3-6, and the five monkeys may be familiar characters to readers of the series.
Eventually all of the children have changed costumes with their friends, and Lulu heads for home with the wrong children. But she knowingly says, “We have to get home for a big Halloween treat,” so they are followed by the original monkeys in their new costumes. After the change artists have been taken inside, the monkeys ring the doorbell and call, “Trick-or-treat, Mama!” She tells them her monkeys are already inside, causing tears to begin to fall, until she opens the door wide and invites them in as well.
Lulu has the perfect treat for tricksters: eyeball cookies and worm juice. Recipes for these specialties are included on the back endpaper.
The author’s humorous pen-and-ink illustrations with digital coloring have a warm, cartoony feel, just right for ages 3-6, and the five monkeys may be familiar characters to readers of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2022
Edited to add: My son who is now 2, enjoyed this book very much this time around! This book is till fun for Halloween!
I read this to both of the kiddos. The first time I tried to read it, my 2-year old made me stop because she was scared. This time, I just explained to her how the monkeys are in costumes, and it isn’t scary, so she let me read the whole book.
My 2-year old really enjoyed this book when she actually let me read it. She thought it was funny how the monkeys kept switching costumes, and got sad when the mama pretended not to know the monkeys in their new costumes.
This was a cute, fall themed book! I can’t wait to dress up for Halloween! The illustrations are colorful, and my daughter though the story was funny. There’s even recipes for “eyeball” cookies, and worm juice in the back!
This is a great read for toddlers especially with Halloween fast approaching.
I read this to both of the kiddos. The first time I tried to read it, my 2-year old made me stop because she was scared. This time, I just explained to her how the monkeys are in costumes, and it isn’t scary, so she let me read the whole book.
My 2-year old really enjoyed this book when she actually let me read it. She thought it was funny how the monkeys kept switching costumes, and got sad when the mama pretended not to know the monkeys in their new costumes.
This was a cute, fall themed book! I can’t wait to dress up for Halloween! The illustrations are colorful, and my daughter though the story was funny. There’s even recipes for “eyeball” cookies, and worm juice in the back!
This is a great read for toddlers especially with Halloween fast approaching.
October 20, 2015
These "Five Little Monkeys" books are cute and they are fun to read. BUT they are always into mischief that I feel like some children may try themselves and it wouldn't be so fun. So be aware of that in these books as your child read these. In this one the monkeys are all dressed for trick or treating and their sitter takes them out. but then they decide one at a time to switch costumes with neighbor kids and their sitter never pays attention that they are doing it. So in the end they think they are playing a good trick on her and she takes five of the wrong children home.
October 23, 2016
The other Five Little Monkeys books haven't done much for me, but I absolutely loved this one. It's the perfect amount of Halloween trickery, and my daughters wanted to read it again and again. The first time through, you could see them guess what was about to happen.
A lot of the reviews worry about this book being appropriate for young children, because the monkeys are up to some mischief. To me though, that's the joy of this type of literature--a story where the unacceptable is possible, a way to channel mischief in a positive way through stories and enjoy possibilities.
A lot of the reviews worry about this book being appropriate for young children, because the monkeys are up to some mischief. To me though, that's the joy of this type of literature--a story where the unacceptable is possible, a way to channel mischief in a positive way through stories and enjoy possibilities.
October 18, 2013
Not what I'd like to share in my Halloween preschool storytime. I don't want to give them ideas to switch costumes! I think older kids would get the humor, but also see how this was not such a nice thing to do. Younger might get it, but I don't want to risk it. I leave it out in case someone wants to check it out, and the parent can explain what is good, what isn't, and what is funny.
August 10, 2023
While trick-or-treating with their babysitter, Lulu, those five irrepressible monkeys try “the best Halloween trick ever!”
It's not every day that Lulu gets to step out with:
1. The banana
2. An extremely alien alien
3. A ghost
4. One green goblin
5. And a beautiful princess.
Turns out, those costumes are only the start of the fun.
WHOEVER HEARD OF SWITCHING COSTUMES while they trick or treat?
Sombody gets into this switcheroo game. Guess who? Later, uh-oh.
What happens after the five "monkeys" are brought home by babysitter Lulu?
On Page 24, Mama gasps. "They look different."
Turns out, that's an understatement.
AND FOR EXTRA FUN
Enriching this FIVE STAR picture book, after the official ending (very satisfying), you can find some essential Halloween recipes:
* Lulu's Eyeball Cookie Recipe
* And Worm Juice
It's not every day that Lulu gets to step out with:
1. The banana
2. An extremely alien alien
3. A ghost
4. One green goblin
5. And a beautiful princess.
Turns out, those costumes are only the start of the fun.
WHOEVER HEARD OF SWITCHING COSTUMES while they trick or treat?
Sombody gets into this switcheroo game. Guess who? Later, uh-oh.
What happens after the five "monkeys" are brought home by babysitter Lulu?
On Page 24, Mama gasps. "They look different."
Turns out, that's an understatement.
AND FOR EXTRA FUN
Enriching this FIVE STAR picture book, after the official ending (very satisfying), you can find some essential Halloween recipes:
* Lulu's Eyeball Cookie Recipe
* And Worm Juice
September 16, 2023
The mischief in this series can be frustrating and obnoxious. This book made me feel scared and worried about all of the kids who read this book and learned that this is a funny trick. What the monkeys did in this book was so dangerous and could’ve had serious consequences. Adults reading this book with children would have to really explicitly talk about safety during and after reading time so that kids learned the lesson not to do what the monkeys did (unfortunately the book doesn’t teach the lesson well because everyone in the book just ends up laughing it all off and they get away with it).
September 8, 2021
Totally adorable concept but I would suggest for much older preschool or even school-age. It was difficult to follow and understand for my 3-year-old and I had to explain it to him on every page. I think I would have possibly had difficulty following if it was being read aloud at a storytime instead of a book we shared one-on-one.
October 8, 2022
This book is really funny and cute, as the monkeys trade costumes with their friends and prank their babysitter, who is doing a head count based on the costumes. I probably won't read this for storytime, since you have to see the illustrations up close to follow the story well and appreciate all of the humor, but it would be fun for a family read-aloud.
October 27, 2023
It's a typical trick the parent/sitter kind of story. The kids think they're getting away with some great joke when really it's being observed the whole time and it all comes back to get them in the end ... or so they think for a hot second. It's a cute story.
October 6, 2017
Those mischievous little monkeys are at it again! Young children will enjoy this Halloween themed adventure.
October 6, 2017
I like that they trade costumes and that they have trickester treats that are eyeballs and worm juice.
October 16, 2017
Cute and silly! Bonus recipe for a trick treat in the back.
December 1, 2017
Not my favorite Halloween book. About 5 monkeys trading costumes to trick their babysitter.
December 12, 2017
Got to love those naughty monkeys!
August 29, 2018
This one might be a little too complicated for storytime because you have to keep track of the five different costumes that the monkeys are.
September 10, 2018
This is a hit with my 4 and 6 year old daughters. I asked my daughter why she likes it and she said "the worm juice". Recipe provided on the back cover.
October 12, 2018
my grandsons liked it - me not so much
October 18, 2018
The five little monkey's are going trick or treating in their costumes. But are the same five monkey's returning home? Cute. Preschool and up
October 9, 2019
Fun "trick" Halloween story.
October 24, 2019
PJ story time 10-23-19
November 5, 2019
This was a cute addition to the classic Five Little Monkey's collection. I thought the story was fun and the kids loved it. Great for Halloween.
December 2, 2021
This is a board book so it's great for toddlers, but maybe a bit too long for toddlers? I did enjoy the story though and the illustrations were alright.
January 25, 2022
Five little monkeys trick Lulu, but it turns out the tricks on them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2022
Not my favorite Halloween book, but cute.
October 27, 2022
No rhyme scheme like the other five little monkeys books, but repeats many of the same words throughout the story. There are Halloween recipes at the end of the book.
November 3, 2023
Fun story. I don’t like style of writing, but the illustrations are playful. A great Halloween trick!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews