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Monkey & Robot
Meet best pals Monkey and Robot. “Good-humored silliness prevails” ( Publishers Weekly ) in this snappy collection of four stories!
Monkey and Robot are friends—the best kind. They simply belong together, and it never matters that silly Monkey is furry, or that gentle Robot can rust. What matters is their movies and popcorn, games of hide-and-seek, a fish tank for…a hippopotamus ?
Joining the ranks of such noteworthy pairs as Bert and Ernie, Frog and Toad, and Henry and Mudge, Monkey & Robot celebrates friendship in this chapter book of four charming tales that are ideal for young readers.
Monkey and Robot are friends—the best kind. They simply belong together, and it never matters that silly Monkey is furry, or that gentle Robot can rust. What matters is their movies and popcorn, games of hide-and-seek, a fish tank for…a hippopotamus ?
Joining the ranks of such noteworthy pairs as Bert and Ernie, Frog and Toad, and Henry and Mudge, Monkey & Robot celebrates friendship in this chapter book of four charming tales that are ideal for young readers.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 29, 2013
2 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
January 9, 2019
First of all, it's just another friendship story for early readers. Special because the characters are called Monkey and Robot. But they're not distinctly robotic or monkey-like. In fact, when monkeys show their teeth, it's a threat display, is it not? Second of all, they're flawed in other ways, too. (Monkey would not be so scatterbrained / naive to try to grow an oak from an acorn in less than a season, Robot would not eat popcorn, and it would be pretty silly to not know whether it's 8 am or pm.)
I do like the illustrations, especially the spread *before* the title page. They give the book another half star. Unfortunately, that's not quite enough for me to round up to three.
My rating and evaluation is duplicated for both books of the series that I read.
I do like the illustrations, especially the spread *before* the title page. They give the book another half star. Unfortunately, that's not quite enough for me to round up to three.
My rating and evaluation is duplicated for both books of the series that I read.
March 17, 2019
Not really a children's chapter book. More of a short story collection, as the four chapters each contain a different story featuring the same two characters. Endearing characters and friendship. Engaging, humorous stories. Very nice black-and-white drawings help bring the text to life, especially the facial expressions on the characters. This book's format provides a good bridge between picture books and the longer stories of chapter books.
January 20, 2018
There are four short stories in this book and in each of them I found Monkey to be a spoiled, whiney brat. All he did was complain! I'm not exactly sure how Robot didn't walk away or get completely exasperated with him.
I found in the second story, which is about scary movies, that Robot pressured Monkey too much to watch a genre that Monkey was not comfortable with. Robot didn't care and just turned it on anyway, regardless of his friend's feelings. I wasn't overly fond with that story as I don't feel children need to pressure anyone into doing something that they don't want to do, or vice versa.
If you have the patience to read this to your child(ren), I salute you.
Sidenote: The illustrations were superb!
I found in the second story, which is about scary movies, that Robot pressured Monkey too much to watch a genre that Monkey was not comfortable with. Robot didn't care and just turned it on anyway, regardless of his friend's feelings. I wasn't overly fond with that story as I don't feel children need to pressure anyone into doing something that they don't want to do, or vice versa.
If you have the patience to read this to your child(ren), I salute you.
Sidenote: The illustrations were superb!
March 25, 2018
I really enjoy reading this book. Monkey is very relatable for my son, who has ADHD-like characteristics. I love finding books where characters speak to my kids and how they relate with others. Please write more!
October 19, 2014
I LOVED this book. Loved loved loved. It made me actually laugh out loud. But my kids' response? "That monkey is creepy." It's the teeth. I don't care, I still love it.
October 24, 2017
A funny little book about two rambunctious friends with very different ways of seeing the world. Great for the earliest readers transitioning to chapter books.
January 2, 2019
I didn't like the book and Miss 4 got bored. There are several stories in the book but she didn't want to finish it. The repetitive writing made sense as an early reader but the relationship between Monkey and Robot didn't work for me. Monkey comes across as very young and maybe Robot is meant to be like a much older sibling but I have to wonder why Robot is insisting on showing a monster movie with blood to a younger child who is clearly scared instead of finding something they both want to do.
Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
September 21, 2021
This is probably my least favorite early reader chapter book that I've read to my son. The opening story about watching a monster movie seemed odd to me because Robot was pressuring Monkey into watching a movie that he really didn't want to watch. The story about a Cacoon was cute and funny.
The four stories in this book don't really need to be put together, but this was short enough that we read all four in likely ten minutes. Monkey and Robot are supposed to be friends, but Robot does seem to have an older persona, as he seems to always be reassuring Monkey's fears, wether they be of scary movies, or animals in his bedroom.
My four year old was entertained, but this wasn't something I'll be recommending to friends.
The four stories in this book don't really need to be put together, but this was short enough that we read all four in likely ten minutes. Monkey and Robot are supposed to be friends, but Robot does seem to have an older persona, as he seems to always be reassuring Monkey's fears, wether they be of scary movies, or animals in his bedroom.
My four year old was entertained, but this wasn't something I'll be recommending to friends.
May 15, 2017
Read this with my 5 year old and the 2 year old might have listened in on part of it too. Monkey and Robot are a fun duo and my kids liked their stories. Just fun stories for younger kids, not much to say about it.
July 4, 2017
Good life stories for young readers. Although, I would have like the first Monster Movie a bit different.
March 10, 2018
Fun and funny beginning chapter book
April 23, 2019
So funny and their friendship makes me think of Frog and Toad books. My boys read this to me and laughed so hard! Will have to find the "More of" one next!
September 3, 2019
I’m sure a child would find this decently entertaining, but I did not like the illustrations. Monkey is incredibly unsettling when he smiles.
February 24, 2022
This book was incredibly cute and funny. It includes four short, entertaining stories. The pictures were black and white but still captivating.
May 8, 2022
The illustrations are adorable and the tales of two opposites as friends are heartwarming, loved this
March 16, 2023
Just got some weird bits.
March 29, 2024
Funny stories. Laughed out loud at the monkey in "The Cocoon" chapter.
May 8, 2015
Personal Reaction: I really enjoyed this book because of it's outlook on friendship that it clearly shows. This book is about two friends who are different from each other but come together in an unlikely friendship. Peter Catalanotto creates two fun characters that students can relate to where Monkey is always getting in trouble and Robot is there to help him out. I enjoyed the quirky characters and friendship aspect of this fun beginner read.
Use in the Classroom: With only 4 chapters in this beginner book, I would use this as a read aloud for my classroom, reading a chapter a day for 4 days. This book would fit in perfectly with a lesson on friendship and how to be a good friend and look for a good friend. As children are growing up, this is an important lesson for them to learn because there is so much diversity in every classroom. I would use this in a 1st or 2nd grade classroom. A fun way to tie this into a lesson would be to ask students who their best friend is and have them write down ways in which they are similar and ways they are different from each other. I would like to do this to show students that just like in the story, it doesn't matter if your friends are extremely similar to you, and many friends have characteristics that the other friend doesn't which can make them a great pair. It would be fun to have students draw a picture of them and all of their fun qualities written around them, and then having them do the same for their friend. This book would be a great pairing with this activity in a first or second grade classroom, and if students cannot think of a friend, the teacher can pair them with a partner in class and the lesson can be used in pairs.
Other: This book would be a great way for students to compare different characters because the two main characters in this book are so different from each other. Students could work on a Venn Diagram in class, comparing Monkey and Robot.
Use in the Classroom: With only 4 chapters in this beginner book, I would use this as a read aloud for my classroom, reading a chapter a day for 4 days. This book would fit in perfectly with a lesson on friendship and how to be a good friend and look for a good friend. As children are growing up, this is an important lesson for them to learn because there is so much diversity in every classroom. I would use this in a 1st or 2nd grade classroom. A fun way to tie this into a lesson would be to ask students who their best friend is and have them write down ways in which they are similar and ways they are different from each other. I would like to do this to show students that just like in the story, it doesn't matter if your friends are extremely similar to you, and many friends have characteristics that the other friend doesn't which can make them a great pair. It would be fun to have students draw a picture of them and all of their fun qualities written around them, and then having them do the same for their friend. This book would be a great pairing with this activity in a first or second grade classroom, and if students cannot think of a friend, the teacher can pair them with a partner in class and the lesson can be used in pairs.
Other: This book would be a great way for students to compare different characters because the two main characters in this book are so different from each other. Students could work on a Venn Diagram in class, comparing Monkey and Robot.
April 30, 2014
Meet Monkey and Robot, a dynamic duo who love playing games, learning from each other, and dunking cookies in milk. When Robot decides to watch a scary movie, Monkey has to cover his eyes with a blanket - but then the music is still too scary! When the two friends try to play a game, Monkey's die flies out the window and gets picked up by a passing dog. When Robot brings home a small cocoon, Monkey waits to see what will come out of it. An elephant? A dinosaur? In a game of hide-and-seek, what will Monkey do when he can't find Robot? These two friends may not always understand each other, but they can agree on the fact that they are the best of friends.
This book was cute and funny and perfect for those just beginning to read chapter books. The third chapter called "The Cocoon" is definitely my favorite - it plays on that classic idea that the child reader is smarter than the book character and it's genuinely funny. Monkey and Robot are funny friends in the vein of Frog and Toad, Bink and Gollie, Elephant and Piggie, etc. This is a great choice for an early chapter book.
This book was cute and funny and perfect for those just beginning to read chapter books. The third chapter called "The Cocoon" is definitely my favorite - it plays on that classic idea that the child reader is smarter than the book character and it's genuinely funny. Monkey and Robot are funny friends in the vein of Frog and Toad, Bink and Gollie, Elephant and Piggie, etc. This is a great choice for an early chapter book.
August 4, 2015
The tone and dialogue reminded me a little bit of another monkey world - Lilian Hoban's Arthur's Christmas Cookies (sadly, no robots in that world). This monkey is more modern than Hoban's, but the stories are simple and funny, just like that. The best beginning readers and short chapter books all seem to have that delightful tone to them - a little droll, with some humor, tinged with sweetness. The pictures in this weren't my favorite - they sort of looked like someone gave the author a pencil and some scratch paper (like copy paper with something printed on the other side that no one wanted) but there is this one picture at the end that made me literally laugh out loud. The first line though - "Monkey and Robot met at work." Was that a lab, and the idea of monkeys in a lab is a sad one. I didn't want to dwell on that one too much.
December 8, 2013
Good characters. Stories have good pacing, emotional resonance, and are funny. Introduce new vocabulary (eg. die is the singular of dice). And I can totally relate to Monkey’s issues around scary movives.
Quibbles: Misuse of lay on p. 46: “Monkey sat at the table, folded his arms, and lay down his head.” should be “laid.” Also, first two non-narrative pages (showing Monkey as an astronaut and riding a skateboard) set up Monkey’s character as a lot more adult/cool than he proves to be, which for me was jarring.
Read for 2014 Mock Geisel.
Quibbles: Misuse of lay on p. 46: “Monkey sat at the table, folded his arms, and lay down his head.” should be “laid.” Also, first two non-narrative pages (showing Monkey as an astronaut and riding a skateboard) set up Monkey’s character as a lot more adult/cool than he proves to be, which for me was jarring.
Read for 2014 Mock Geisel.
January 1, 2014
This early reader features four stories about the fast friendship between Monkey and Robot. Whether they are watching a scary movie together or making new rules about turns when playing a game or even playing Hide-and-Seek, these two are friends, no matter what. I have to say that I liked Robot a whole lot better than Monkey because he was so patient and understanding while Monkey seemed to be a bit of a handful. The graphite pencil and ink illustrations add to the book's fun as readers can follow the two friends through their adventures.
March 26, 2013
This is a nice choice for those children who are ready to try their hand at an easy chapter book. Four chapters, with simple sentence structure with black and white drawings in graphite and ink, describe the friendship between Monkey, who worries, and Robot, who is upbeat and carefree. Perfect for the child who is not ready for Catalanotto's "Second Grade Friends" series, but who want to read a "chapter book."
May 8, 2013
Monkey and Robot share much fun and laughter in this easy chapter book. They watch a scary movie (though Monkey watches from under a blanket,) play a board game (one die flies out the window, and mud and hilarity ensue,) and share other activities, all with humorous consquences. The soft pencil drawings do a nice job of supporting the stories; adding an extra level of charm to these lovable characters.
Reviewer #19
Reviewer #19
May 18, 2013
Looking for something for a child moving up from easy readers, but for whom chapter books are still a little too intimidating? Try this relatively easy transitional chapter book, with pencil sketch illustrations, about the odd couple of monkey and robot. They watch a movie, play hide and seek, and have a sleepover. The plot is too close to last year's RABBIT AND ROBOT: THE SLEEPOVER, but still nice.
May 2, 2013
This humorous, beginning chapter book for grades 1 and up follows the exploits of two good buddies who discover that no matter what, friends stick together. Readers will relate to the two main characters along with the situations they find themselves in.
Reviewed by: Lisa Marie Smith, Youth Services, Vernon Area Public Library
Reviewed by: Lisa Marie Smith, Youth Services, Vernon Area Public Library
March 25, 2013
This is a very cute beginner chapter book along the same lines as a Frog and Toad frienship. We all know kids just like Monkey! You can't help but smile at his childlike enthusiasm and misconceptions.
April 9, 2013
Very funny and clever. Love the friendship between Monkey and Robot. Fun and expressive illustrations. Great for readers looking to try chapter books. Nice bridge between beginning readers and more in-depth chapter books.
April 11, 2013
Parts were kind of cute and parts were a little creepy in a way. Monkey's expressions and facial features were a little to human which is where I think the creepiness for me comes in. Overall a kind of cute chapter book for those just transitioning out of easy readers into intermediate chapters.
May 13, 2013
I really enjoyed the stories in this early reader book, but there is something about monkey that bothers me. He looks creepy, and not entirely like a monkey. I just can't get past that. Other than said Monkey continuously wigging me out through the course of the book, though, I did enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews