Monkey See Monkey Draw

by Alex Beard

The monkeys that live at the foot of the Mbuno Hills in Africa love to play games. One day while playing Elephant in the Middle with their large friend, their ball, a nut from an ancient baobab tree, rolls into a cave where the troop of monkeys never go. It is dark inside and possibly filled with horrible beasts! When they venture in, they discover instead that the walls are covered with paintings of animals. Elephant shows the monkeys how they too can create artwork using their hands and feet as “stamps” and mud as their medium. But things are never quite as easy as they seem.

Artist Alex Beard brings his love of exploration and painting to life with his signature animals in this charming tale about creativity and overcoming fears.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction, Plays

48 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Tracy]

Cute. Spoiler alert: I like the moral that you can't win at art. If I liked the illustrations better I'd probably be getting this one right now.

[Kelly]

This group of books is weird.

[Karin]

Fun intro to cave drawings, with a bonus lesson in having fun rather than competing.

[Laura]

What a strange book! A bunch of monkeys play games and their favorite is, no surprise, Monkey in the Middle. When an elephant wins the game by catching the baobab nut, they are forced to venture into the dark, scary cave they avoid. It turns out that the cave is filled with painting that include hand prints. The monkeys learn to draw and appreciate art as a noncompetitive activity.

I had to think carefully about why I found the book a bit unappealing. The monkeys are depicted as strange creatures and the story is very straight-forward. The message is very clear and most students will grasp the theme easily.

A second glance through the book made me appreciate the dark cave scene, which is well-done and striking. There are also a number of interesting and quirky details included on the sides of most illustrations.

I'm not sure if I would purchase this book for a school collection or not. I can see that kids would potentially be interested in the crazy pictures and streamlined plot. It would also be an interesting complement to Ed Emerbley's thumbprint drawings.

[Karen A.]

These monkeys like games but one day they find some cave paintings made with hand and foot prints. They discover that they also can make all kinds of animals and pictures using just their feet, hands, and some lines. What fun!! But is it a game? Who wins? No one because, as Elephant points out, it is not a contest - art is fun for everyone. This is a fable like story that reads well and really gets across the idea that art is good fun and it is for everyone. I would especially recommend it to Pre-school or Early Elementary Art teachers who want to inspire their young students. Kids will especially like the idea of creating creatures just using their hands and feet.

[Libby]

This was a selection from books read aloud at storytime, and while it's not a personal favorite, I appreciate its quality. The illustration style is unique, and I think the monkeys' faces are a little creepy looking, but they didn't bother my kids, and the pictures do incorporate hand, foot, and thumbprints in a way that's fun. Also, I think the border drawings enhance the story.

Also, I think the story has a nice message, that not all games have to be competitions, but it doesn't hit you over the head with the message. A fun choice all around.

[Kelly]

Definitely different in terms of illustrations, but so cool to see what can be made from thumb, hand, and foot prints. I like to make little people out of my thumbprints but I never though to extend it to animals and other things. I loved how his monkeys have thumbprints at the center of them. The story was cool in that it seemed like an old folk tale. The author also gave a shout out to using art for fun and not competition.

[The Library Lady]

Did anyone but me read this book and go "HUH?"
Scratchy art style with little child appeal. Language is awkward--choppy and stiff.
For adults perhaps. Not much here for kids. And kids are the audience for whom I buy picture books (!)

[Leslie]

Competitive monkeys play games in the Mbuno Hills of Africa, until their baobab nut is lost in a spooky cave. When they find handprint and footprint art in the cave, they are inspired to make their own art. Would love to use this with Ed Emberley thumbprint books.

[John]

A good idea for a storytime!

[Edward Sullivan]

Colorful and playful. The illustrations are much better than the story.

[Erica]

Love the creativity in the illustrations in this book, which are made from hand and foot prints. A cute story with the themes of conquering fear and playing for fun, not just for winning and losing.

[Bethe]

Weird little drawings, very different from the usual illustrations seen in books with monkeys. Author's note explains why.

[Michelle Farella]

Liked the story, but I found the drawings of the monkeys to be a bit strange.

[Debby Baumgartner]

Monkeys discover a cave where paintings of animals are done with palm and foot prints.

[Jenny]

I thought the illustrations were very creepy.

[Karen]

Would be a great read to go along with an elementary art lesson