Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion

by Verna Aardema

"That little rascal made a monkey out of me again," cries Lion; and no matter how ferocious he acts, Lion can't catch the clever thieves stealing honey from his calabash tree.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Folklore, Africa, Animals, Fairy Tales

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

A prolific American children's author and teacher, Verna Norberg Aardema Vugteveen - more commonly known as Verna Aardema - was born in 1911 in New Era, Michigan. She was educated at Michigan State University, and taught grade school from 1934-1973. She also worked as a journalist for the Muskegon Chronicle from 1951-1972. In 1960 she published her first book, the collection of stories, Tales from the Story Hat. She went on to write over thirty more books, most of them folkloric retellings. Her picture-book, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, won co-illustrators Leo and Diane Dillon a Caldecott Medal. Aardema was married twice, and died in 2000 in Fort Myers, Florida. (source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Ronyell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many African folktales and I had enjoyed a good majority of them! So, imagine my surprise when I picked up a new children’s book called “Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion,” which is a Swahili tale retold by Verna Aardema along with illustrations by Jerry Pinkney and it is definitely one story that every child should read!

The story starts out with the honey guide telling Rabbit about how it found some tasty honey in a calabash tree and Rabbit decides to invite her friends Bush-rat and Turtle to dine on the honey. Unfortunately, the calabash tree belongs to Lion and he is not happy about having a couple of pests eating honey out of his tree! So, in order to escape from being eaten by Lion and getting the honey at the same time, Rabbit and her friends end up tricking Lion into various situations that allow them to get the honey, making a monkey out of Lion!

Will Lion finally get Rabbit?

Read this book to find out!

I have read many books written by Verna Aardema and I always enjoyed the way that Verna Aardema is able to retell many ancient folktales and make them so mesmerizing to read! Well, this book was no different and I really loved the way that Verna Aardema was able to combine both humor and drama into this story as you laugh whenever Rabbit tricks Lion and get scared when you think that Lion will eat Rabbit. I loved the fact that this story is reminiscent of Uncle Remus’ “Brer Rabbit” tales as both stories involves the main protagonist being a rabbit and tricking their enemies to get out of dangerous situations. Jerry Pinkney’s artwork is as usual gorgeous to look at as the characters look truly realistic and I always loved seeing the scenes where Lion is chasing Rabbit right after she tricks him in order to escape as they look truly vibrant.

Overall, “Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion” is another fantastic African folktale from the great mind of Verna Aardema and anyone who loves reading about African folktales should definitely check this book out! I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.


Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Determined to enjoy the honey to be found in a bee's nest lodged in the lion's calabash tree, Rabbit and her friend Bush-Rat, and then Turtle, get to "have their cake and eat it too." Each time they are confronted by the territorial lion, Rabbit and her friends manage to escape to safety, until Rabbit decides not to test fate any longer...

I enjoyed this Swahili tale, originally published as The Hare and the Lion in George W. Bateman's 1901 Zanzibar Tales , immensely. Verna Aardema, well known for her many excellent folktale adaptations, delivers another entertaining narrative in Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion. The beautiful illustrations by Jerry Pinkney, five-time Caldecott Honor winner, give a real sense of motion and activity to the tale. Highly recommended to all young folklore lovers!

[Cleo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jeremy Pinkney's illustrations.

[Lara Lleverino · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the flavor of Uncle Remus stories a modern folktale by the imaginative Julius Lester and the talented Jerry Pinkney.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rabbit and Bush-rat have found some honey and begin eating it until lion comes along. He tells them it is his honey. They get away by fooling the lion. This is called “making a monkey” out of him. The next day rabbit goes back with turtle. Once again they get away by fooling the lion. The lion realizes that the rabbit is behind all of this and decides to hide in rabbit’s house and gobble him up when he returns home. The rabbit is smart and fools the lion once again.

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

good story, good illustrations

[wildct2003 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story and pictures

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A traditional African tale beautifully illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and expertly retold by Verna Aardema of how rabbit tricks lion to escape.

[Gavin Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story and all the clever tricks Rabbit and his friends used to escape from the gullible lion, proving once and for all the brain beats brawn!

[Abby Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great expressions on the lion.

It is pretty wordy, but there are some fun sounds to make.

[Anna Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion
Author: Verna Aardema
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney
Genre: Non-European Folktale
Theme(s): Working together
Opening line/sentence: "There was a time when, of all creatures in the world, monkey was considered most foolish."
Brief Book Summary:
This book is about a rabbit who finds a beehive in a lion's calabash tree. In order to get honey from the hive, the rabbit uses the help of a rat and turtle, however, the lion is not pleased to find out someone is eating his honey. The rabbit then uses his clever tricks to escape the lion and continue dipping into the beehive for food.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 1989)
Once Rabbit knows about the beehive in Lion's calabash tree she is determined to get the honey for herself. Using Turtle and Bush-rat as accomplices, Rabbit outwits the slow-moving Lion. Each animal is characterized through its actions as well as by the details of Pinkney's dramatic pencil and watercolor illustrations. The author is successful in using onomatopoeia effectively in passages such as "The sand flew, freh, freh, freh, freh! But the burrow was too deep." Pinkney's illustrations are as dynamic from a distance as they are close up, making the lengthy, action-filled tale from Zanzibar a natural choice for group use. CCBC Category: Folklore, Mythology And Traditional Literature. 1989, Dial, 28 pages., $11.89. Ages 4-9.
(PUBLISHER: Dial Books for Young Readers (New York:), PUBLISHED: c1989.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
First with Bush-rat and then with Turtle, Rabbit visits the calabash tree, about which the honey guide bird has trilled songs of sweet nectar. But that tree is Lion's, and he confronts the invaders just as they are settling into a meal. Quick-witted, Rabbit eludes Lion, but not before he has made the larger beast look foolish and thus prompt his refrain, ``That little rascal made a monkey out of me!'' Credited as a Swahili tale, the story will remind some of Brer Rabbit's pranks on Brer Fox, or of other trickster tales. Aardema offers up a sound piece of storytelling, admirably reflected in Pinkney's full-color watercolor and pencil illustrations; he composes a lush jungle setting for the folksy antics, and brings drama to the text with his depictions of the various escapes from the hapless Lion. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)
(PUBLISHER: Dial Books for Young Readers (New York:), PUBLISHED: c1989.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both of these reviews were good, I thought, but I liked the first review better. It was more detailed than the one by Publishers Weekly. I liked how the CCBC pointed out the onomatopoeia and provided an example. One thing the reviews had in common was the discussion on the illustrations. However, that is something I disagree on. Both of the reviews seem to really enjoy the illustrations but I did not like them that much because I thought the colors blended too much.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The first thing I noticed with this book was the text. It is never in the same location. Therefore, it could be hard for some readers to adjust to. The text could also be challenging if the students are not familiar with onomatopoeia because those are not actual words. As far as illustrations go, as I said above, I thought the colors blended together a lot because they consisted of mainly browns and yellows. Really the only color that popped out was the green from the leaves and grass.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
For my instructional application I would use the fact that this book has plenty of onomatopoeia. I think to gain practice with it and get a feel for it I would have the class split up into small groups and act out the story. That way they can see exactly how it is used, Then, when they write stories they can feel more comfortable incorporating it.

[Claire Kirchgessner]

Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion is a Swahili tale for readers of primary to intermediate levels. I found this tale interesting because I had never heard this story before, however; I'm sure it is a popular folktale in Swahili. It was said that a monkey was the most foolish animal. In this story, a Rabbit is wakened by a bird informing him he knows where some honey is. The Rabbit first enlists the help of a Bush-Rat. They climb the calabash tree and get the honey, the only problem is that is the Lion's tree. The Lion tries to get the scavengers out of his tree. The Rabbit and the Bush-Rat manage to trick the Lion and escape, making a monkey out of him. The next day, the Rabbit goes back to the tree, this time enlisting the help of a turtle. Again, the Lion sees them, and again, they fool the Lion and escape, making a monkey out of him. The next day the bird comes back to tell the Rabbit he knows where the honey is, but Rabbit learned his lesson, he got away the first two times, but he tells the bird, "That's the Lion's tree."

[Taryn Vogel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Reaction: I found a lot of similarities between this book and the story I read from the Mexican culture. I really enjoy the trickster tale, and to see the smaller animal outsmarting the bigger, stronger animal. This book was really fun to read, so I think it will be great for enjoyment in the classroom.

Purpose: I think this book should be aimed for students 2nd-3rd grade. It could be used in a lesson to show how all cultures relate and can be combined. The plot line of this book was very similar to Borreguita, which is from a completely different culture. The students could find different books from different cultures and find how they all compare and can work together. Students will really appreciate the illustrations in the story. They are all very bright water color paintings that kind of jump off the page. It will definitely keep the students attention and enjoyment for the story.

[Zach Naegele · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story a rabbit obsessed with honey endangers himself and others. A honey guide leads the rabbit to a bees nest, but the rabbit cannot or does not want to gather honey alone. First the rabbit takes along a bush rat. The lion claims the tree is his, and he gets angry with the two. The rabbit finds a way to trick the lion where they both get away. Later the bush rat must trick the lion so he can stay alive as well. Next the rabbit returns to the tree with a turtle. Again the lion is upset, and the rabbit tricks the lion. When the lion confronts the turtle, the turtle tricks him as well. The lion realizes the rabbit is the instigator, so he tries to trap the rabbit, but alas the rabbit is too smart for the lion. In the end the rabbit decides not to try his luck any longer, and stops visiting the tree that belongs to the lion.

[Reana Smiley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aardema, Verna, and Jerry Pinkney. Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion: A Swahili Tale. New York: Dial for Young Readers, 1989. Print. Picture book. Ages 4-8. Rabbit makes a Monkey of Lion is a story about a rabbit who is looking for honey. The rabbit gets into trouble with a lion, and has to be smart to get away from the lion. This story uses a wide variety of vocabulary words which is an important element in a picture book in order to help a child develop their vocabulary. This book also has lovely illustrations that help depict the story and give an idea of what to picture. In both those aspects, this is a great book. However, the story its self is dull and I found myself having to reread pages because I couldn’t pay attention long enough to read a few sentences. For parents and teachers who want to introduce their children to a new variety of African animals this may be a good choice.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Traditional literature, trickster tale
Rabbit evades lion over and over again by using clever tricks and sometimes the help of friends such as turtle and bush rat. Pinkney's signature watercolors add expression and emotion to the text, but they are cluttered compared to his later work of "Lion and Mouse".

[Alex Wulfekuhle · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story a rabbit obsessed with honey endangers himself and others. A honey guide leads the rabbit to a bees nest, but the rabbit cannot or does not want to gather honey alone. First the rabbit takes along a bush rat. The lion claims the tree is his, and he gets angry with the two.

[Kapra McMichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

-A folk about a rabbit's tricks on a lion
-An entertaining story for kids

[Debby Baumgartner · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is the animals against the mighty lion over his tree.