Monkey Truck: A Picture Book

by Michael Slack

Book HardcoverPublication 1/18/2011 32Reading Age 2 and Up

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Trucks, Transport, Nature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 18, 2011

About the author

Michael is an author, illustrator, and character designer. He uses bold colors, and fun shapes to create his quirky character-driven art. His illustrations can be found in books, magazines and on television. He has designed artwork for various children's products and apparel. His paintings and drawings have been exhibited in the U.S. and Europe.


Michael is represented by Painted-Words Represents

Reviews

[Danica Midlil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great rythym and ryhme in the story. Excellent pictures show the energy of the characters. And the vocabulary is nice and juicy, and there's a great silliness about the whole thing, but the main character? A sentient truck which looks like a monkey? I just don't get it. Maybe that's because I'm not a four year old BOY? I think it would work well in storytime and it would be interesting to find out if little ones liked the idea of a monkey truck hero.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monkey Truck IS a three- or four-year-old boy, on the go, got his own business to attend to, not even stopping for a banana. Respect that tiny agenda, wonder what world that little guy is in.

Also, the dedication of this book is a marriage proposal. Stephanie, I sure hope you said yes!

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a monkey... and a truck... okaaaaay. It was alright, besides having to explain what a tsunami was. That might've been a poor choice. But the kids liked it, and it reads well out loud.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

T.G.I.M.T. (Thank Godz It's Monkey Truck.)

Buy this title from Powell's Books.

[Kachina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My little "monkey" loved this one

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a little strange for me--I mean why is the monkey a truck while all the other animals are just themselves. But beyond that, the illustrations are cute and it reads well and I think kids might like it, even though I don't necessarily.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short sentences, rhyming text and bold, bright illustrations make this a good book for story times. My only qualm is the part where "Monkey Truck is faster than a tsunami...it felt misplaced, and not a word that would have any meaning to little ones.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange and silly. Kids will probably love it!

[Elizabeth S · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can see why some people might like it. But to me, it was dumb. Not bad, per se, just makes me lift my eyebrows and say, "Sooooo, why?"

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monkey Truck lives in the jungle where he is busy all day helping animals out of predicaments.
In rhyme with fun illustrations.

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes no sense, but it was hilarious! Loved the illustrations.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weird

[Braylen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite book of all time when i was a kid. goated

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever there is trouble in the jungle, Monkey Truck races to the rescue! He saves small lizards from crushing elephant feet. He rescues big hippos from a shrinking and muddy water hole. He grinds gears to get the job done with his truck bed filled to bursting. He is Monkey Truck! Fueled by bananas and always ready to go, he is the hero of the jungle.

This book grew on me once I got into the story. It has a frenetic pace that toddler will enjoy immensely. It also obviously has its own screwball humor from the premise alone! That humor is really what makes this book work so well. From fart jokes to bouncing stacks of muddy hippos, there is plenty of laughter to be found here.

The book has been printed on thicker pages, making it an ideal transition book for toddlers from board books to picture books. This is clearly a book that is meant for very young children who just might demand why they can’t have a monkey truck of their very own!

If you do a toddler story time at your library or work with a toddler group, this is a book that will really work when shared out loud. Be prepared to mash your animal sounds with engine noises and your young listeners will be sure to enjoy it! Appropriate for ages 1-3.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My five-year-old son picked this book out from our local library this week, because, well, monkey AND truck.

This book was a load of near-rhyme, strange rhythm silliness. That is not necessarily a criticism. I didn't enjoy this book, or even "get" this book, at all, but my son seemed to find parts of it hilariously funny. That's fine -- a monkey truck that zooms around the jungle rescuing other animals is certainly a positive role model for any child.

[Courtney K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little boys love monkeys and trucks, so combining the two is a stroke of genius. Bobo loved this book. Monkey truck is a hero of the jungle. The illustrations remind me of late 90s cartoons, think SpongeBob. The pages are thicker than regular pages, but thinner than a board book. It is a happy medium for the little ones who are over board books, but may still tear regular pages.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 3 out of 5]

My toddler loved this; I wanted to throw it out the window. The monkey truck is kind and generous and saves his fellow jungle residents, but the drawing style itched my eyes, especially because I kept trying to figure out how the Monkey Truck worked at all. Best seen as a child pretending to be a Monkey and a Truck at the same time. Reasonable reading rhythm for the reader-out-loud.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book, but I'm not sure what the point of it is. Monkey Truck can do all sorts of things and helps in all sorts of ways. But why in the world would there be a half monkey/half truck living in the jungle? If there had been a boy at the end pretending with a toy or two, I would understand.

Okay for preschool or toddler storytimes.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the strangest children's books ever. He's a monkey and a truck. He saves Hippos from a Tsunami.

Kids will love it for the rhyme, the animals, and the truck, but all I can do is say...huh?

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's a "four-wheeled banana-eating machine"? The Monkey Truck of course! This is great book for young readers. Kids can help make the truck noises as Monkey tries (and succeeds) to save the hippos. Great for toddler read-aloud storytimes.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is constructed of sturdy paper and has such colorful illustrations that young children, especially boys, are sure to be engaged with the antics of a jungle critter that seems to be a complete ‘911’ rescue team comprised of only one single monkey!

[Patty Schuster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but easy book for children to read. Very colorful with illustrations all over the pages. Preschoolers would enjoy this silly book about different animals and a monkey who looks like a small truck and who helps other animals in the jungle.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our story time theme combined "Curious George" with "Fire Safety". This story was perfect for both themes, as "Monkey Truck" is all about coming to the RESCUE! The children loved all of monkey's close calls and rescues.

[Laura McLoughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is weird. It is about a monkey truck (some sort of unholy offspring of a monkey and a truck I would assume). He does go around the jungle saving various animals who are in trouble, but I never quite got past the truly odd premise and illustrations.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once you get passed the strange idea of a monkey that is a truck too, this book is silly fun.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, rhyming text about a monkey/truck helping animals out in the jungle.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odd book (a monkey that's a truck?), but I can see my nephews loving it.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A monkey with a mission--WOW, he sure is fast.
His overdrive engine burns BANANA GAS. TOOT!"

Who wouldn't love a book with lines like that?

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

zoom, zoom! lots of fun! a bit frenetic, but would be great to do with lots of sound effects and zooming around of a little stuffed animal. Can't you just see making a monkey truck puppet??!!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good silly fun.