The Case of the Missing Monkey

The High-Rise Private Eyes #1

by Cynthia Rylant, G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)

Deep in the heart of the city. . .Mac's favorite glass monkey is missing. Who would take a glass monkey? And why?

This sounds like a case for the High-Rise Private Eyes--Case #001, to be exact, "The Case of the Missing Monkey"

Because no mystery is too mysterious, no puzzle to puzzling, no crime too criminal, no trouble too troubling for ace detectives and very best friends Bunny Brown and Jack Jones.

Genres: Mystery, Picture Books, Childrens, 1st Grade, Animals, Fiction, Chapter Books

48 pages, Hardcover

First published August 31, 2000

About the author

An author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children and young adults as well as an author and author/illustrator of picture books for children, Cynthia Rylant is recognized as a gifted writer who has contributed memorably to several genres of juvenile literature. A prolific author who often bases her works on her own background, especially on her childhood in the West Virginia mountains, she is the creator of contemporary novels and historical fiction for young adults, middle-grade fiction and fantasy, lyrical prose poems, beginning readers, collections of short stories, volumes of poetry and verse, books of prayers and blessings, two autobiographies, and a biography of three well-known children's writers; several volumes of the author's fiction and picture books are published in series, including the popular "Henry and Mudge" easy readers about a small boy and his very large dog.

Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.

from bookrags.com

Reviews

[Lola Salamah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bunny Brown and Jack Jones – bunny is the brains and Jack is the snoop, and together they crack the case of the missing glass monkey wide open. High Rise Private Eyes: The Case of the Missing Monkey is a great book by Cynthia Rylant, and illustrated by Brian Karas. This is a great and really funny book about a pair of friends that work together and who solve a mystery together for their friend. Bunny and Jack decide to go out to breakfast for some pancakes and when they get there, they end up solving a case for Mac who works at the diner. Mac needs to figure out who took his glass monkey that stands by the cash register. When Bunny and Jack realize it must have been a regular customer, since it was taken the day before between 8:00 and 9:00 am, they decide to come back the following day and see all the regulars. The next day, when Bunny and Jack (well mainly Bunny since Jack was mostly interested in the food) realize that the crow has a baby tote, then that must mean there is a baby crow. They figure that the crow took the glass monkey to distract the baby from crying and forgot to return it. That day, when crow leaves, the baby monkey is left on the table, and it wasn’t stolen after all, but just an accident. This is a great early reader chapter book for grades K-3. The humor and bickering in the book between the characters is lively and will keep the children entertained as they read or listen along. The book has much repetition so the reading is not too difficult, and great for a read aloud. For struggling reading students, this is a great book for guided reading. There are several topic points that a teacher can point out during or after reading the book, for example, paying attention to detail, theft, accidents, etc. I loved this book and I recommend this light-hearted book and for any child who likes mystery books.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: Bunny liked brussels sprouts and cheese for breakfast every morning. "Yuck," said Jack. "It's delicious. Try some," said Bunny.



Premise/plot: This is the first book in an early reader mystery series by Cynthia Rylant. In this early chapter book, Jack and Bunny solve the case of the 'missing' monkey. It starts at a local diner. The two are breakfasting together. The owner is distraught when his glass monkey is stolen. Can Bunny and Jack solve the mystery?


My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I am trying to read as much Cynthia Rylant as I can this year. I really enjoy her work and there is so much I haven't read! The mystery elements of this one were fun. I enjoyed following the clues. I think children would enjoy it as well.

[jada alexis]

this is copaganda lmao

(art was interesting tho i love color pencil illustrations)

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because I liked the part when they found out who took the missing monkey (the crow). I didn't like this book because I don't like going on cases.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Jones-- no relation to the singer who floats the Love Boat--is a raccoon ready for action. His partner, Bunny Brown, is a rabbit (hence the first name, duh!) who, being female, is the brains. (Sorry, boys, we have to honor the female.) Together they make the simplest crimes more complicated, and mysteries more fun for kids. Their first case has our pair at a nice breakfast cafe, the Grill Next Door (puns, gotta love em!) where the owner is missing a glass monkey figurine. Suspects include a sheep, a fox and a crow, all returning customers. But returning....for what? Oooo, revenge is a dish best served...sunny side up with hash browns and biscuits with gravy! Cynthia Rylant has started a fun new crime series in the tradition of Scooby Doo, Inch High Private Eye, and other classic mystery cartoons.
Four stars
Jack and the Bunny Girl rock!

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery

I love the repetition used throughout the book, that way kids can begin to read along if this is used as a read aloud.
I also enjoy the use of dialogue in this book. The dialogue uses unique vocabulary, which would be great for students to notice as they read the “chapters” each day/week! The vocabulary also includes words that imply this is a mystery, which is super important to emphasize over and over again for younger readers.

Grades 2-4

[Mila · Rating 4 out of 5]

One time, Bunny and Jack were quite hungry for breakfast. They were eating at Bunny’s, but Jack did not like Brussels Sprouts. Bunny said, “Just one teeny bite!” But Jack said no.

So, they went to the diner next door and they asked if they could have a bite to eat from Mac. Mac said, Oh thank goodness you’re here, because I have a case for you to solve!

I liked how Bunny and Jack were arguing about the food.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep in the heart of the city. . .Mac's favorite glass monkey is missing. Who would take a glass monkey? And why?

This sounds like a case for the High-Rise Private Eyes--Case #001, to be exact, "The Case of the Missing Monkey"

Because no mystery is too mysterious, no puzzle to puzzling, no crime too criminal, no trouble too troubling for ace detectives and very best friends Bunny Brown and Jack Jones.

[Madeline Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Mystery
Grade Level: 2nd grade

This was a short chapter book that would help children begin to explore larger texts. I thought this book's special feature was the characters. It had two characters that second graders would enjoy and find funny and engaging. The banter between Bunny and Jack while they solved cases was relatable and something all ages can enjoy.

[Jennifer Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

while the book did describe things and was silly at times, some humor would not be understood by a kid. I also didn't care for the ending of this book, because it didn't feel like a mystery was solved or the culprit did much beyond leave something behind without saying something.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Historical Fiction
An aspect of this book I really enjoyed is the majority of the text is dialogue. The book could be divided up among three students to read, each playing the role of one of the main characters.
Grades: K-2

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

My children absolutely adore this book. Reading literature is so important to the development of a child's mind, and I cannot think of thing I would rather do then sit down to read to them in the evenings. Imagination and growth are so vital in those so young.

[Adrianne Rosal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute hold on to your shiny things.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cute first reader. Great dialogue between Bunny and Jack - funny in ways that kids will get and a few puns that adult readers will love.

[Nicoswan · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are enjoying this series so far. We will keep reading.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good for an early reader.

[Mary T · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for a new series that my youngest boys would enjoy, but this wasn't it. They sat through it but weren't very engaged or interested in it.

[Kelly Vavala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was GREAT! I smiled through the whole thing! I love the interaction between the characters and how the case was solved!! Very cute!

[Ashlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The High-Rise Private Eyes: The case of the Missing Monkey, by Cynthia Rylant, is a mystery series book about two detectives named Bunny and Jack and in this story they go down to their favorite diner for breakfast and the owner says he’s missing his glass monkey so they take on the case to find it! They realize it was taking between 8-9am when all of the regulars are in, so they decide it must’ve been a regular, and they’ll all be back tomorrow so they would solve the case then! They go back the next day and see the regulars and start looking at what they have with them. They see the crow, with a baby tote next to him. Bunny says that if there’s a baby tote, there’s probably a baby crow in there trying to sleep. So yesterday he probably grabbed the shiny monkey to distract the baby from crying to get him to sleep, and forgot to put it back. Sure enough, when the crow left, he left the monkey on the table as well! Case closed!
The illustrator is G. Brian Karas, and he uses acrylic, gouache, and pencil for the drawings in this book. It is not exactly a chapter book, but it is a little more than a children’s picture book as well. There is no special way the text is written or any repetitiveness. And there are no borders around the test, the text is just on white background. The pictures are normally small drawings, some of them bleed out to the end of the page, with no real borders, and the text goes along with what the story is telling.
I really like mystery books because I think they make children more critically think, instead of when they’re just reading a normal children’s book.

[English 212 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I personally did not love this book. It was simple and kids would be able to read and comprehend, but the story did not really teach me any kind of life lesson or moral. I think that it should have taught me something or given me some kind of moral dilemma or used the pages better to give a story. I did not feel like their was a climax and the solving of the mystery did not seem easy to follow for children, with the deductive reasoning of the crow being the thief. I thought solving the mystery should have been a bigger deal; like they had accomplished something but it was just "alright, on to the next one." Children of this age group could read it, but i did not find it to be quality children's literature. They could understand the words and the repetition, but i did not think the story was worthy, nor were the pictures extraordinary to me. I liked the idea of a children's chapter book, with very small chapters, but still a break in the story for a new part, i just did not like this particular story. I guess i would use this book more as read to yourself if they felt comfortable, or read it by chapter and ask questions about what will happen next before i moved on to the next chapter. I was disappointed in the quality of the book, but possibly their are qualities that i am missing out on seeing, or have overlooked.

[Melanie, Aaron, Annie, and Mary Project · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read by: Aaron
Author: Cynthia Rylant Illustrator: G. Brian Karas
Genre: Mystery
Interest Level: K-2
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.1

Jack and Bunny visit their favorite restaurant only to find that the owner is missing his miniature monkey statue. After some questioning, the two deduce that one of the "regular" customers that morning likely took it. Returning the next morning, they observe the same customers; however, as Jack focuses on each animal's food selection, Bunny pays attention to the important details, one of which solves the mystery. One customer, the father crow, used the shiny statue to calm his baby while he ate, but must have accidentally took it home the previous day. When the crow finished eating that morning, the statue was right there on the table. This easy-to-read book has excellent illustrations and would make a good choice when stressing the importance of focusing on the finer details.

[Esther Choi · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are two detectives in this book: Jack and Bunny. They are hilarious characters that constantly bicker about the smallest things. While they are eating at the local grill, the owner of the store asks them if they can help him figure out who stole the glass monkey that was near the cash register. The two of them take notes on their surroundings and work together to solve the mystery. Young students would love trying to figure out the mystery with all the notes/hints they gather. The characters also are very funny which is sure to keep young readers engaged. Great lesson would be predictions for this book.

Interest Level: Grades K - 2
Grade level Equivalent: 2.1
Lexile Measure®: 160L
DRA: Not Available
Guided Reading: K
Type of Book: Early Readers Chapter Book
Genre: Adventure, Mystery and Suspense
Theme/Subject: Cooperation and Teamwork, Determination and Perseverance, Friends and Friendship

[Paola · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystery story book perfect for 1st graders and up. The book is about a raccoon, Jack, who is a detective; he is at his office with his secretary who is a bunny. Then they both go to a dinner to have lunch when Mac, who works at the dinner, tells them he need their help finding his monkey. Both Jack and Bunny began to gather information and suspects. They asked everyone who had been at the dinner when finally they solve the case. Turned out Crow took the monkey to calm down baby crow and forgot to put it back.
A very cute story about mystery for little kids. It looks a bit old but the content is great, it has a table of content, chapters, and the illustrations go along with the text. Overall a great book to introduce mystery and entertain kids.

[A · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Case of the Missing Monkey was not the most interesting mystery I've ever read and I didn't find it humorous enough to hold my interest, let alone a small child's. But then again they might find the animal characters interesting enough. The case of the missing monkey, is not much of a case. The glass monkey was mearly borrowed by a crow caring for his baby. While eating breakfast one morning, he must have used it to keep the baby quiet and forgot to return it that day, but he didn leave it behind on the table the next. The main characters are Jack and Bunny. This beginning chapter book and easy reader is appropriate for readers in grades 1-3.

[Alexandria Hiam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Case of the Missing Monkey was not the most interesting mystery I've ever read and I didn't find it humorous enough to hold my interest, let alone a small child's. But then again they might find the animal characters interesting enough. The case of the missing monkey, is not much of a case. The glass monkey was mearly borrowed by a crow caring for his baby. While eating breakfast one morning, he must have used it to keep the baby quiet and forgot to return it that day, but he didn leave it behind on the table the next. The main characters are Jack and Bunny. This beginning chapter book and easy reader is appropriate for readers in grades 1-3.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The books in the High-Rise Private Eyes series are great for new readers as well as for younger children who like mysteries, but cannot sit still long enough for bigger chapter books. The characters are funny and they interact much as siblings do. The mystery in this book was fairly simple, but interesting, and I like that it encourages children to be observant. We've read this one a couple of times.

[Nadine in NY Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

My older daughter LOVES mysteries, and this series was just perfect for her when she was ready to start chapter books. Jack and his partner Bunny have a dry wit, and often the jokes would amuse me greatly, but go over her head. That's part of what makes these books perfect: there is a level of great enjoyment for the child reader, AND a level of enjoyment for the adult who listens. Plus, a mystery to solve!

[Rosa Cline · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a level 2 reading book, a child could read it with help there is MUCH repetitive words and phrases. (Actually so many repetitive that it got 'old' reading it out loud.) The storyline was actually a nice one and the meaning was there with it being an introduction to mysteries to children. But the wording was so very repetitive that it got old fast reading it outloud to my special needs teenage son. We did stay with it and finish the story but if it had continued it would have 'lost' us.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a parent, these books drive me nuts. The plots are cute but there's so much dialogue (with the "Bunny said" after each statement made by Bunny) that they are obnoxious to read out loud.

The kids love them and don't mind listening to it though :-) We have a few of them and they like all of them.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in the High-Rise Private Eyes books (a "series" that does not need to be read in order). I got a kick out of how Bunny carefully went through her reasoning in solving the mystery. Too neat? Not for the target age group - it's a good example of logical reasoning.