Big Little Monkey

by Carole Lexa Schaefer, Pierre Pratt (Illustrator)

"Chee-chatta-chee!" A sweet, funny tale of a small monkey's first swings toward independence — and his new appreciation of the comforts of home

Early one morning in the big mango tree, Little Monkey wakes up and finds his whole family still asleep. Is Little Monkey brave enough and big enough to go find someone else to play with? He thinks so! And bim-ba-lah, bim-ba-lah, he swings away, hand over hand, until he finds a sloth to hang upside down with (too quiet), a parrot to sing along with (too squawky), and even a hissing boa to join in a game of Curl My Tail Around in Tricky Ways (way too tricky!). Will Little Monkey find just the right playmates, in just the right place?

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Storytime, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 9, 2008

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

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a monkey who wakes up early and is eager to play. He attempts to wake his parents up but they tell him that it is too early and to go back to sleep. The little monkey decides that he is now a 'big little monkey' and therefore goes off to find someone else to play with. Along his journey he meets as sloth, parrot and a boa, but he realises that playing with these animals is not the same as playing with his parents and therefore goes home. When he returns he explains what he has been up to and asks if he can play with his parents, he says that he will always be his mums 'little monkey.'

I felt that this was a really nice book for a reception class. If any children were struggling to fit into the routine of leaving their parents in the morning then this would be a nice way of explaining that the children would be able to play at school and return home to their parents after, just like 'big little monkey.'

The book was a little dull at times and I feel that it would only be engaging for a reception class or younger. The illustrations were very good though!

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My six year old liked it. Overall for me it was meh. The ending was sweet though.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When little monkey wakes before the rest of the family, he is bored and wants something to do. He decides he is a "big little monkey" now and he can go off into the jungle to find someone else to play with instead. He encounters sloth, parrot, and a boa that he escapes. Big Little Monkey ends up back at home and tells his family he is a big little monkey now but he can also stay home because sometimes he is still Mama's Little Monkey. This is a fun and sweet story with bright, bold acrylic illustrations. It would make a great read aloud for preschool children.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Monkey's family is sleeping in this morning, so he decides he's big enough to go find others to play with. He hangs upside down with Sloth, sings with Parrot, and sneaks away from Snake until he finds the perfect playmates.

The illustrations are really cute and kids will enjoy meeting the other jungle animals and the sounds they make. This book would make a great flannel board story.

[Christine Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Little Monkey decides to venture out into the jungle alone, beyond the gaze of his watchful Mama, he discovers that other animals are not as friendly and warm as his own family and that independence is not altogether a good thing. www.hcpl.net

Subjects

Monkeys -- Juvenile fiction

Jungle animals -- Juvenile fiction.

Getting lost

family

[Zack · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story didn't do much for me, but I did enjoy the illustrations. The sloth illustrations steal the show.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Illustrations are very cute. The book is about a monkey that is sick and tired of being little, and wants to grow up.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think perhaps I'm just a sucker for the sleepy mommy monkey at the beginning of the book. I also like the repetition of the "bim bah lah" throughout the book, as does the 2.5 year old.

[Katy Brandes · Rating 3 out of 5]

My little one liked this book so much that he has asked for it every day for a week after we returned it to the library.

[Rori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute.

[Melina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun book to read aloud, especially the boa section :) I also enjoyed retelling the story to my in-laws later :)

[Bob Thalman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun story with super neat illustrations. I really liked the ending. 3.5-4 stars.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

My four year old thought it funny that other critters wake up before their mamas and ready to play!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about jungle animals-with fun noises too!