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There Were Monkeys In My Kitchen
Our young heroine awakens one morning to total chaos when she discovers hordes of chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans have taken over her home. "Baboon catastrophe" continues despite her valiant efforts to restore order, until official help arrives -- and something else!
32 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1992
1 person is currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Sheree Fitch
44 books81 followersFrom the Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia:
"Sheree Fitch is an educator, literacy activist and author of award winning poetry, picture books, nonfiction, plays and novels for all ages. Her first book, Toes in My Nose, illustrated by Molly Lamb Bobak, was launched in 1987. The books that followed have garnered numerous awards, including The Mr. Christie Award for There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen, The Anne Connor Brimer Award for Mable Murple. If You Could Wear my Sneakers, a book on Children's Rights commissioned by Unicef won both the Ontario Silver Birch Award and Atlantic Hackmatack award.
In 1998 she won the prestigious Vicky Metcalf award for a body of work inspirational to Canadian Children. She has been goodwill ambassador for Unicef since 1994 and her lipslippery adventures have taken her to remote parts of the globe.
Her work as a poet and literacy educator has taken her to the Arctic as eight-time poet laureate for Peter Gzowski's fundraisers for literacy and to Bhutan where she taught writing and participated in that country's first national reading week. Author readings have taken her to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Belize and Mexico.
Currently, she is Honorary Spokesperson for the New Brunswick Coalition for Literacy. The coalition recently initiated the Sheree Fitch Adult Learner Scholarships. She is also Honorary Spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Read to Me Program. This program provides literacy information to new parents and books for newborns. Each year she sponsors a writing competition for New Brunswick Youth. Her latest venture in literacy education includes completing a three year (summer ) writer in residency for Somebody's Daughter --- out on the tundra in Nunavut. This is an innovative program for Inuit women started by Bernadette Dean, Sheree's friend and former student from a writing workshop Ftich held during one of her soujourns to the north.
In the fall 2004, Gooselane Editions released an expanded anniversary edition of her adult book of poetry In This House Are Many Women and Orca published Pocket Rocks, illustrated by Helen Flook.
In May 2005, Fitch's first novel (ages ten and up), The Gravesavers, was published by Doubleday Canada Random House. A coming of age story blended with a historical event—the wreck of S.S. Atlantic in 1873—Fitch considers the novel "a kind of love letter" to her Maritime home and a celebration of her roots. Upcoming books include If I Had A Million Onions, a collection of nonsense for all ages and Peek a Little Boo, a book for babies.
Fitch lives with her husband, Gilles Plante and divides her time between Washington D.C. and River John, Nova Scotia. In demand as a visiting author, workshop leader and keynote speaker, she is currently working on an adult novel. She holds a B.A. from St. Thomas, an M.A. from Acadia University and honorary doctorates from both St. Mary's and Acadia for her contribution to Canadian literature and education. She has two grown children."
"Sheree Fitch is an educator, literacy activist and author of award winning poetry, picture books, nonfiction, plays and novels for all ages. Her first book, Toes in My Nose, illustrated by Molly Lamb Bobak, was launched in 1987. The books that followed have garnered numerous awards, including The Mr. Christie Award for There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen, The Anne Connor Brimer Award for Mable Murple. If You Could Wear my Sneakers, a book on Children's Rights commissioned by Unicef won both the Ontario Silver Birch Award and Atlantic Hackmatack award.
In 1998 she won the prestigious Vicky Metcalf award for a body of work inspirational to Canadian Children. She has been goodwill ambassador for Unicef since 1994 and her lipslippery adventures have taken her to remote parts of the globe.
Her work as a poet and literacy educator has taken her to the Arctic as eight-time poet laureate for Peter Gzowski's fundraisers for literacy and to Bhutan where she taught writing and participated in that country's first national reading week. Author readings have taken her to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Belize and Mexico.
Currently, she is Honorary Spokesperson for the New Brunswick Coalition for Literacy. The coalition recently initiated the Sheree Fitch Adult Learner Scholarships. She is also Honorary Spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Read to Me Program. This program provides literacy information to new parents and books for newborns. Each year she sponsors a writing competition for New Brunswick Youth. Her latest venture in literacy education includes completing a three year (summer ) writer in residency for Somebody's Daughter --- out on the tundra in Nunavut. This is an innovative program for Inuit women started by Bernadette Dean, Sheree's friend and former student from a writing workshop Ftich held during one of her soujourns to the north.
In the fall 2004, Gooselane Editions released an expanded anniversary edition of her adult book of poetry In This House Are Many Women and Orca published Pocket Rocks, illustrated by Helen Flook.
In May 2005, Fitch's first novel (ages ten and up), The Gravesavers, was published by Doubleday Canada Random House. A coming of age story blended with a historical event—the wreck of S.S. Atlantic in 1873—Fitch considers the novel "a kind of love letter" to her Maritime home and a celebration of her roots. Upcoming books include If I Had A Million Onions, a collection of nonsense for all ages and Peek a Little Boo, a book for babies.
Fitch lives with her husband, Gilles Plante and divides her time between Washington D.C. and River John, Nova Scotia. In demand as a visiting author, workshop leader and keynote speaker, she is currently working on an adult novel. She holds a B.A. from St. Thomas, an M.A. from Acadia University and honorary doctorates from both St. Mary's and Acadia for her contribution to Canadian literature and education. She has two grown children."
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 30, 2018
A fun monkey business book.
February 22, 2024
Cause it's funny
September 2, 2025
A girl wakes up one morning and finds monkeys in her kitchen - and chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans! They create total chaos in her house, and when she calls the police for help she isn’t believed. Funny rhyming story with great illustrations.
January 26, 2024
love a good book that rhymes
December 30, 2012
“First published in 1992, There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen won the Mr. Christie Award for Best Canadian Children’s book. With hilarious new illustrations by Sydney Smith and Sheree Fitch’s zany rhymes, this edition will introduce the bestselling book to a whole new generation.”
I was delighted with this book, but Steven, at three, not so much. He liked the rhymes which are catchy and change meter often. But some of the terms went too far over his head.
Monkeys of every kind in every room: gorillas in a grand ballet – pirouette, arabesque, plié, sauté, monkeys square dancing — promenade, lemonade, do-si-do, orangutans tangoing and so on. There lots of subtle and not-so-subtle humour that’s meant, I’m sure for 4 – 9 year-olds.
Both the rhyme and the illustrations clearly convey the mayhem in Willa Wellowby’s house and there’s such detail in the pictures that an older (than three) child could pore over these for hours. There’s a lot of story packed into this slim volume.
Despite Steven’s reserved reaction (I really think he’s just too young to appreciate this), I’m giving There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen four and one-half stars.
I was delighted with this book, but Steven, at three, not so much. He liked the rhymes which are catchy and change meter often. But some of the terms went too far over his head.
Monkeys of every kind in every room: gorillas in a grand ballet – pirouette, arabesque, plié, sauté, monkeys square dancing — promenade, lemonade, do-si-do, orangutans tangoing and so on. There lots of subtle and not-so-subtle humour that’s meant, I’m sure for 4 – 9 year-olds.
Both the rhyme and the illustrations clearly convey the mayhem in Willa Wellowby’s house and there’s such detail in the pictures that an older (than three) child could pore over these for hours. There’s a lot of story packed into this slim volume.
Despite Steven’s reserved reaction (I really think he’s just too young to appreciate this), I’m giving There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen four and one-half stars.
September 23, 2012
There Were Monkeys in my Kitchen! By Sheree Fitch. Illustrated by Marc Mongeau. Doubleday Canada Ltd., 1992. ISBN 0-385-25349-4 (hardcover); 0-385-25470-9 (paperback).
A young girl tells the story of how monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees invade her home in swarms. She attempts to contact the authorities several times in order to get assistance in dealing with the unwanted visitors. The entire time, the animals are thoroughly enjoying all the comforts of her home.
This story is illustrated with bright and creative full-page drawings. Although there are many words on each page, the cadence and rhyme are very engaging. This is a great book for expanding vocabulary. As an educator, this book would fit well with 6+1 Writing Traits: Word Choice.
1993 Mr. Christie's Book Award for best English Canadian children's book.
A young girl tells the story of how monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees invade her home in swarms. She attempts to contact the authorities several times in order to get assistance in dealing with the unwanted visitors. The entire time, the animals are thoroughly enjoying all the comforts of her home.
This story is illustrated with bright and creative full-page drawings. Although there are many words on each page, the cadence and rhyme are very engaging. This is a great book for expanding vocabulary. As an educator, this book would fit well with 6+1 Writing Traits: Word Choice.
1993 Mr. Christie's Book Award for best English Canadian children's book.
August 23, 2013
A girl has a severe primate problem. There are monkeys and gorillas and chimpanzees dancing all over house. She tries calling the Royal Canadian Mounted Police several times, but they don't take her seriously for a while.
A silly rhymed story. K-3 will probably eat up the crazy antics of the monkeys and how the police don't believe her. The beat of the rhyme didn't always completely flow, so I felt the poetry could have been a little better. The art is certainly crazy to match the words. Pick this up for a lighthearted read to some little ones. Writing teachers could also use the ending where the girl is afraid she heard several hundred elephants as a jumping off place for kids to write a silly story of their own.
A silly rhymed story. K-3 will probably eat up the crazy antics of the monkeys and how the police don't believe her. The beat of the rhyme didn't always completely flow, so I felt the poetry could have been a little better. The art is certainly crazy to match the words. Pick this up for a lighthearted read to some little ones. Writing teachers could also use the ending where the girl is afraid she heard several hundred elephants as a jumping off place for kids to write a silly story of their own.
January 25, 2008
Concentrated chaos, comedy and commotion explode from every detail-packed image and fervent verse of this frenzied celebration of syllables and silliness.
Is it just me, or does this book perfectly capture the pandemonium of parenting?
Listen to our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
Is it just me, or does this book perfectly capture the pandemonium of parenting?
Listen to our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
October 10, 2013
Delightful and entertaining, and I am perhaps unfairly contrasting it against Fitch's other works (Mabel Murple being a particular favourite). Just doesn't flow quite as well as some of her other works. That said, inventive and playful, charming and cute. Illustrations by Sydney Smith fit perfectly. A not-quite-as-great Sheree Fitch book is still light years ahead of most everything else.
March 15, 2012
A fun rhyming book with a great rhythm. There were monkeys in her kitchen. Doing all kinds of crazy stuff. What should she do? Nothing she does helps and when she calls the police they all disappear--or do they? A fun book to read aloud.
February 1, 2016
Awesome book!! Loved it as a kid!! A childhood favorite. I remember how my sister practically memorized the whole thing because of how much she loved it. I've gotta buy this someday.
February 20, 2013
Never read this before, but I think it is a LOT of fun.
November 23, 2013
A friend recommended it to me so I picked it up to read while babysitting. It was a big hit with my nephews, both boys (4 & 7) loved it.
January 8, 2014
Read this to the kids in the school library this week and they loved it. It has a good rhythm and is fun and silly. I really enjoyed reading it!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews