Monkey and Elephant and the Babysitting Adventure

Monkey and Elephant #5

by Carole Lexa Schaefer, Galia Bernstein (Illustrator)

“Babysitting isn’t as easy as it seems. . . . Fans of the earlier titles will delight in Monkey and Elephant’s last escapade.” — School Library Journal

When Monkey’s cousin MeeMee tells Monkey and Elephant she needs someone to watch her three babies for an afternoon, the two friends volunteer. But Monkey and Elephant don’t quite know what to expect. Will babysitting be hard? Will they need some rules? Will they be any good at it? And when some old baddies show up, will the two babysitters know what to do? Beginning readers will recognize the conflicting feelings that come with trying new things even as they delight in the antics of this unlikely pair of friends.

Genres: Friendship

48 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 2016

About the author

When Carole Lexa Schaefer was growing up, she wanted to be both a poet and a journalist. In an unexpected way, she feels she achieved her ambition. While studying for a master's degree in early childhood education, she once put together a picture book made of photo essays. "The lyrical, every-word-counts genre captivated the poet and journalist in me," Carole Lexa Schaefer recalls--and she's been writing stories for children ever since. Her first book with Candlewick, THE COPPER TIN CUP, traces the origin of a family keepsake that's been handed down for generations. "It was inspired by my connections with my immigrant relatives through stories and songs--invisible heirlooms--to keep handing on," she says.

The longtime director of a Seattle preschool that she founded in 1980, Carole Lexa Schaefer often draws on her experience with young children when writing stories. In DOWN IN THE WOODS AT SLEEPYTIME, not one of the baby animals in the woods is ready to go to bed, until Grandma Owl finally finds a way to settle everyone down. The author says she was inspired "by all my friends at Little Friends Preschool who like to play just a little bit longer--even at sleepytime." Luckily, preschool teachers now have some help at nap time: DOWN IN THE WOODS AT SLEEPYTIME, says PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, is a book in which "author and artist make bedtime about as appealing as it gets."


With her next books, Carole Lexa Schaefer switches gears from sleepytime to partytime. FULL MOON BARNYARD DANCE is a rousing read-aloud that showcases farm animals dancing as they learn to appreciate their differences. ONE WHEEL WOBBLES, a zany counting book, follows one fun-loving family on Family Parade Day as they roll along on an ever-increasing number of wheels--Gramma on a motorcycle, Sister on a trike, and Grampa on some snazzy skates. Of ONE WHEEL WOBBLES, Carole Lexa Schaefer explains, "I wanted to create a counting book for children with which they could have a rollicking good time."


Carole Lexa Schaefer, who has a master's degree in early childhood education from the University of Washington, taught school for ten years in places as varied as Taiwan, Switzerland, and Micronesia, as well as Missouri and Washington. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, the author now lives in Seattle.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Monkey volunteers to babysit Cousin MeeMee's three babies. Elephant is not amused
They come up with rules for the babies as they go. Elephant saves them from some Wildcats. Nice illustrations, but kind of mundane story.

[Donna Mork · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monkey and elephant watch cousin monkeys three babies. They set up rules to follow so that babies stay safe and elephant and monkey aren't overwhelmed.

[Nan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Complicated text for an easy reader. Wasn’t pulled into the story and found the text meh.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy reader chapter book about best friends Monkey and Elephant and their adventures in babysitting a trio of monkeys. Nothing gets too out of hand here, and Monkey and Elephant have the opportunity to teach the monkeys some lessons in conduct using rules they make up to guide their day.

Vibrant digital artwork. Very short sentences in large type for practice and confidence building in early readers.

Recommended for grades K-3.

[Ellis Whinihan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy, I really love these Monkey and Elephant books!

[Pinky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Monkey and Elephant have fun babysitting Meemee's kids and they get coconuts for watching them.