Three Little Monkeys by Quentin Blake, illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark(HarperCollins, 2016)Good to Read for:its funny storyempowering your childsparking conversation with your child  Some picture books have a moral (the best are usually buried deep within the story). But sometimes they are designed to simply entertain – like Three Little Monkeys by Quentin Blake, illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark (HarperCollins, 2016).

The story begins in an easy, conversational style as the well-to-do Hilda Snibbs returns to her swanky Parisian apartment, ladened with exotic (and expensive-looking) shopping.

 

Now, some people have dogs, and some people have cats, but Hilda Snibbs –

Hilda Snibbs had three little monkeys.

Their names were Tim and Sam and Lulu.

 

Hilda Snibbs dotes on her monkeys, and feeds them slices of fruit. Lulu (differentiated by her bow) is sticking carrots in her ears – just the sort of endearing behaviour you’d expect from a little monkey.

Chichester Clark’s monkeys are adorable. With their big, round, innocent eyes, they look as if butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths! Sound like anyone you know?

When Hilda leaves to buy more bananas, the three little monkeys line up and smile sweetly. “Be good while I’m away,” she said.

 

When she had gone Tim and Sam and Lulu soon felt bored, so they crept into the hall cupboard to see what they could find to play with.

 

Now the monkey business begins!

They empty the hall cupboard, play with the umbrellas and pull laces out of shoes. Naughty Lulu monkey ‘pulled all the feathers out of Hilda’s best hat.’

   

Uh-oh!

It’s utter chaos.

   

“I’m really very disappointed in such naughty little monkeys,” [Hilda] said.

 

Every day, Hilda asks the monkeys to behave while she’s out. The three little monkeys soon get bored, of course. So they make their own entertainment by picking a room to trash – with hilarious consequences.

   

This story structure empowers your child. By using patterned language with a ‘repetitious and predictable rhythm’ [TES], Blake sets the scenes up so kids can anticipate what might happen next. They’ll delight in the carnage revealed with the page turn (especially when the monkeys unroll Hilda’s toilet paper and squeeze out the toothpaste) – situations that many will relate to! Also, by ramping the mayhem up a notch or two, Blake and Chichester Clark elevate the scenarios to a point where your mischievous kids will feel superior and good about themselves'. (‘Well, at least I’m not as naughty as the monkeys!’)

Every time Hilda returns, she gets the same response: Tim and Sam and Lulu looked at her with their big round eyes and said nothing.

All parents get angry with their kids. I know I did. Admittedly, they never got into the pedal bin and threw out all the potato peelings! But they emptied out cupboards and toy boxes daily, and on a bad day, that can be enough to test anyone’s patience.

So it will relieve parents when Hilda reaches her limit and shouts at the monkeys: “Great grief! How long can I put up with these dreadful little monkeys?” and “Oh, for a peaceful life without these wicked little monkeys!”

Then, one day, it appears Hilda’s wish for a peaceful life came true.

When she returns home, everything is neat, tidy, and in its proper place – just as she left it.

There is no soup on the floor or towels in the toilet bowl.

Her knitting is neatly folded, and her tulips are still arranged in the vase.

Where are her three little monkeys?

Poor Hilda sobs and wails and cries buckets of tears. Without her darling monkeys, Hilda’s life feels empty and dull. (Chichester Clark cleverly illustrates the moment in grey, as if Hilda’s life is drained of all joy and colour.) Distraught, Hilda fetches a dry handkerchief from the  linen cupboard – 

 

And there were Tim and Sam and Lulu.

They looked at her with their big round eyes and said nothing.

“Oh my goodness,” said Hilda.

“You naughty little monkeys.”

   

It’s a lovely moment of relief and tender reconciliation as ‘Hilda realizes that even with the mess, her life is better with her three mischievous monkeys.’ [School Library Journal] Many kids will be relieved to find that there are ‘children’ out there naughtier than them and reassured that – no matter what – Hilda still loves her monkeys.

Blake might have ended the story there. But he can’t resist an unexpected final parting joke that made me chuckle: That night, as Hilda slips into bed, she discovers a final naughty surprise: all the spoons and forks from the kitchen and three tins of sardines in tomato sauce.

 

But that is the sort of thing you have to expect if you have three little monkeys.

  Tips for sharing Three Little Monkeys

Use the story to discuss feelings. For example, how does Hilda feel when she discovers each mess? What about the monkeys? How do they feel being left alone? Why are they so bored? (Source: TES Magazine)

The monkeys in the story don’t talk - but if they did, what might they have said to Hilda? (Source: TES Magazine)

Use Three Little Monkeys as a quiet moment to end One Of Those Days where the kids played up and got themselves into trouble until finally, you lost your cool! Reassure your little monkey that they are loved (and even apologise if you could have handled the situation better).

Three Little Monkeys by Quentin Blake, illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark(HarperCollins, 2016)Good to Read for:its funny storyempowering your childsparking conversation with your child Copyright © 2016 Quentin Blake (Text) & Emma Chichester Clark (Illustrations)From THREE LITTLE MONKEYS by Quentin Blake & Emma Chichester Clark(HarperCollins) GOOD TO READ

Best picture books featuring primates

Hug by Jez Alborough

Jazzy in the Jungle by Lucy Cousins

Maybe by Chris Haughton

Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne & Max Lang

King Kong’s Cousin by Mark Teague

Mr Big by Ed Vere

Monkey Found a Baby by Jeanne Willis & Jane Chapman

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“wonderfully mischievous” 

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BUY U.K. BUY U.S.A. * I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFF RELATED ARTICLES SOURCESThree Little Monkeys by Quentin Blake, illus. by Emma Chichester Clark (HarperCollins, 2016)BookTrust review of Three Little MonkeysSchool Library Journal review of Three Little Monkeys ‘Maybe the monkeys are learning, just like we are’: the class book review  (TES Magazine, 14th October 2016) Are you stuck for quality stories that you and your kids will enjoy? Sign up for recommendations and tips. SIGN UP HERE © 2024 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE