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Three Little Monkeys
A remarkable collaboration – that brings together giants of the picture book world – to create a funny, anarchic and utterly delightful picture book. A classic of the future.
Hilariously read by Olivia Colman.
Hilda Snibbs had three little monkeys. Their names were Tim and Sam and Lulu. They were very lively…
Hilariously read by Olivia Colman.
Hilda Snibbs had three little monkeys. Their names were Tim and Sam and Lulu. They were very lively…
Audible Audio
First published November 7, 2017
1 person is currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Quentin Blake
815 books732 followersSir Quentin Saxby Blake is an English cartoonist, caricaturist, illustrator and children's writer. He has illustrated over 300 books, including 18 written by Roald Dahl, which are among his most popular works. For his lasting contribution as a children's illustrator he won the biennial international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2002, the highest recognition available to creators of children's books. From 1999 to 2001, he was the inaugural British Children's Laureate. He is a patron of the Association of Illustrators.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
June 22, 2020
When Benedict Cumberbatch reads you a book, the only logical response is to get warm and cozy in bed and just listen.
July 27, 2020
Oh my! I would love to listen to Benedict Cumberbatch reading more children's books, this has been such a treat. You can listen to him, too: https://youtu.be/OpwJJSE34z4
Also some knights reading Shakespeare sonnets before, the usual Monday stuff. The tale is at the end, as it should be.
Also some knights reading Shakespeare sonnets before, the usual Monday stuff. The tale is at the end, as it should be.
March 29, 2018
I can't really feel sorry for the woman in this story. She should have made sure that her pet monkeys had plenty of monkey toys to play with!
July 3, 2017
Welp, this was just bad, and it looked so good and fun! :(
Going by the blurb and also the cover it would be a book I would enjoy, but sadly the book was full of repetitions that were fun once, but lost their charm after the second time. I just hated those monkeys. Plus I found them highly creepy with their dead stares and no reactions when their owner was angry.
I was just waiting for them to start reacting, but...
If I was the owner I would have either found someone to train the monkeys, or just brought them to a sanctuary. Besides, monkeys aren't pets.
So I mostly stayed for the cute (well with the exception of dead eyes) illustrations.
But all in all, this was a big disappointment.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Going by the blurb and also the cover it would be a book I would enjoy, but sadly the book was full of repetitions that were fun once, but lost their charm after the second time. I just hated those monkeys. Plus I found them highly creepy with their dead stares and no reactions when their owner was angry.
I was just waiting for them to start reacting, but...
If I was the owner I would have either found someone to train the monkeys, or just brought them to a sanctuary. Besides, monkeys aren't pets.
So I mostly stayed for the cute (well with the exception of dead eyes) illustrations.
But all in all, this was a big disappointment.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
December 24, 2017
Loved it! A true classic!
November 30, 2017
This book was so silly and fun and fabulous in a vintage classic sort of way. True if you're looking at it in a literal thought of "pet" monkeys it won't fit you. But if you're coming to it after looking for more books to read aloud to your rambunctious children after reading "Caps for Sale", and "Curious George" or even "Five Little Monkeys" then you are in for a real treat.
Repetition and sequence activity is available making it predictable in segments which is great for the K-3 child. The text is witty and the monkeys are adorable (round wide innocent eyes, just like some children I know...). The illustrations are very attractive and full of details to pour over and study. It is entertaining and one that I could easily fitting in with the classics we keep around.
While there is no real moral per say. The monkeys do shape up from their woah-be-gone ways. Or at least it seems. But that is so much so again like a little child. Naughty but oh so loveable. What is a mama to do? The book made me grin and even made me love the idea of a curious bored little monkey a little more.
Review copy. Honest opinion.
Repetition and sequence activity is available making it predictable in segments which is great for the K-3 child. The text is witty and the monkeys are adorable (round wide innocent eyes, just like some children I know...). The illustrations are very attractive and full of details to pour over and study. It is entertaining and one that I could easily fitting in with the classics we keep around.
While there is no real moral per say. The monkeys do shape up from their woah-be-gone ways. Or at least it seems. But that is so much so again like a little child. Naughty but oh so loveable. What is a mama to do? The book made me grin and even made me love the idea of a curious bored little monkey a little more.
Review copy. Honest opinion.
February 27, 2018
Lovely illustrations support the text.
Three monkeys live with Hilda Snibbs. Every day they get into mischief while she's gone.
One day she comes home and everything is in its place with no mess. She's worried they've left.
She decides that life with monkeys is full of messes and she likes it that way.
Three monkeys live with Hilda Snibbs. Every day they get into mischief while she's gone.
One day she comes home and everything is in its place with no mess. She's worried they've left.
She decides that life with monkeys is full of messes and she likes it that way.
November 23, 2017
Moral of the story: don't trust your monkeys.
January 8, 2019
“What have I done to deserve these mischievous little monkeys?” cries Hilda Snibbs. Perhaps therapy, or incarceration, would help Hilda find answers. But let’s help her out. For starters, she is holding wild animals captive in an unnatural habit. Secondly, she thinks of these wild animals as children. Third, she expects these child substitutes to act like adults and keep a tidy house. Never mind that the monkeys are unsupervised for extended periods and play with toxic “cleaning powders” and toothpaste. None of this is OK in real life, so how did Hilda’s issues pass muster with Harper Collins’ editors?
March 30, 2018
Blake, Quentin Three Little Monkeys Illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark PICTURE BOOK Harper, 2016. $19. Content: G.
Hilda Snibbs has three pet monkeys who like to cause mischief while she is away. No matter how many times Hilda tells them to be good, they cause a mess. One day when Hilda returns home she can’t find her monkeys anywhere and she is distraught. When Hilda finally finds them in the closet, she is so relieved that when she climbs into bed that night, she decides that she doesn’t care that they hid all the silverware in her sheets. What does she expect-they are monkeys.
This book is adorable and I enjoyed the illustrations. The naughty monkeys made me and my son laugh. The whole book I kept thinking- of course they are making a mess what does she expect, they are monkeys, so it’s funny when Hilda admits as much at the end.
EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE. Reviewer, C. Peterson.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Hilda Snibbs has three pet monkeys who like to cause mischief while she is away. No matter how many times Hilda tells them to be good, they cause a mess. One day when Hilda returns home she can’t find her monkeys anywhere and she is distraught. When Hilda finally finds them in the closet, she is so relieved that when she climbs into bed that night, she decides that she doesn’t care that they hid all the silverware in her sheets. What does she expect-they are monkeys.
This book is adorable and I enjoyed the illustrations. The naughty monkeys made me and my son laugh. The whole book I kept thinking- of course they are making a mess what does she expect, they are monkeys, so it’s funny when Hilda admits as much at the end.
EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE. Reviewer, C. Peterson.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
January 15, 2018
"Some people have dogs, and some people have cats, but Hilda Snibbs had..." three little monkeys as her pets. Like other pets, whenever Hilda leaves home, she returns to find that her three bored monkeys have had a lively time creating mischief in the house and made a mess in the process. Each time, she scolds them for their misbehavior. The fifth time she leaves and returns home, she discovers they have not created a mess…or did they?
A fun story from one of the most iconic British illustrator (and sometime-author) of our time, with illustrations by one of his students – Emma Chichester Clark.
Recommended for ages PreS-3
A fun story from one of the most iconic British illustrator (and sometime-author) of our time, with illustrations by one of his students – Emma Chichester Clark.
Recommended for ages PreS-3
March 26, 2018
Tim, Sam and Lulu are three naughty monkeys who belong to Hilda. Each day when she goes to run an errand, Tim, Sam and Lulu get up to "no good". But one day, when Hilda reaches the limits of her patience, the monkeys disappear. Hilda is so sad. When she finds them she is very relieved and she realizes that their mischief is part of who they are. The last scene of the book ends with yet another trick played by the monkeys. Very clever and although it has a lot of text, listeners are willing to stick with this story since it is so delightful.
January 26, 2018
This was a fun book to read with my 4 and 2 year old. I understand the use of repetition in children’s book, but skipped over some of them. It just felt a bit too wordy which is why I marked it down a little. But, it was fun to see what those naughty little monkeys destroyed and poor Hilda had to go replace it every day. The illustrations were great and really brought the time period to life.
March 19, 2019
Really 3.5 stars, but rounded up to counter some of the lower community reviews. So silly. Of course children will know that Hilda was foolish to trust the monkeys, and that the monkeys were truly naughty... but the thing is, she loved them anyway, just like most moms love their naughty little ones no matter what.
September 8, 2019
In light of the scholarship around inherent racism in portraying misbehaving anthropomorphic monkeys in children's literature from Edith Campbell, I find this book highly problematic and would not purchase for my library nor share with children.
On Negroes Monkeys & Apes
On Negroes Monkeys & Apes
December 29, 2017
i have a strong aversion to monkeys but this book is so sweet and charming you can forget the characters are evil little poop throwers. perfect book for the end of those days when mom has had enough of her "little monkeys" but she still loves them with all her heart.
January 31, 2018
Although this could function as a “how not to parent” book, it is pretty funny and very stylish.
Could lead to some discussion about behavior: what could she have done differently? What did they want?
Could lead to some discussion about behavior: what could she have done differently? What did they want?
July 24, 2018
What??!! Quentin Blake writes books too?!
I can imagine that children would love these pet monkeys. First of all, who wouldn't want a monkey for a pet? And second of all, of course they're going to get into a lot of trouble. Silly monkeys.
I can imagine that children would love these pet monkeys. First of all, who wouldn't want a monkey for a pet? And second of all, of course they're going to get into a lot of trouble. Silly monkeys.
January 16, 2020
Hilda Snibbs has three monkeys who cause immeasurable trouble when she's running errands. But as much trouble as they are, when she suddenly can't find them she is quite distraught.
Darling story of naughty monkeys. A bit long for storytime.
Darling story of naughty monkeys. A bit long for storytime.
November 11, 2017
Entertainingly chaotic.
November 23, 2021
A fun little book. A great book for people that have their own little "monkeys" at home who get into mischief when parents aren't looking.
It could work as a storytime book but I feel like I'd have to summarize what is happening on the page isn't stead of reading it word for word. It is a little long for that purpose and I don't know if kids would sit still long enough to tell the story and go through the whole "what's happening on the page".
I do like it and I think this would be a great book to have a "monkey" in your lap and to read it too them.
It could work as a storytime book but I feel like I'd have to summarize what is happening on the page isn't stead of reading it word for word. It is a little long for that purpose and I don't know if kids would sit still long enough to tell the story and go through the whole "what's happening on the page".
I do like it and I think this would be a great book to have a "monkey" in your lap and to read it too them.
June 18, 2019
Hilda Snibbs doesn’t have the usual pet. No, she has Tim, Sam and Lulu - three monkeys. Everyday when Hilda leaves, she tells the monkey to be good, but they get bored and make a huge mess. “How long can I put up with these terrible little monkeys?” The one day that Hilda comes home and there’s no mess, there are also no monkeys. And that’s when Hilda realizes just how much she enjoys her mischievous monkeys.
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April 13, 2022This is an entertaining book that works in the classic childhood book structure of repetition. The illustrations are adorable. I read the book expecting it to be similar to the story about monkeys jumping on a bed, thinking they'd learn their lesson, but the book subverted that dove straight into humor. This is a very funny book and would work especially well for young kids in recognizing patterns.
March 25, 2025
Some people are really hating on the book, but I listened to it being read by Benedict Cumberbatch. 😂
Yes, I definitely think it's illogical to have monkeys as pets in a house, unsupervised. But this is fiction, and it's a funny children's story. I believe the analogy could represent having three children who can create even more mess than these three monkeys.
It's a cute story and definitely a fun one!
Yes, I definitely think it's illogical to have monkeys as pets in a house, unsupervised. But this is fiction, and it's a funny children's story. I believe the analogy could represent having three children who can create even more mess than these three monkeys.
It's a cute story and definitely a fun one!
December 6, 2017
Evidently Hilda Snibbs didn't get enough information about caring for monkeys from her monkey dealer. She had 3 of them as pets and boy did they make messes! What mischievous little monkeys she has and she has no idea what to do with them! Little children will completely understand the draw of a closed closet or bathroom door. For ages 2 - 6.
December 8, 2017
This book was so silly and fun and fabulous in a vintage classic sort of way. True if you're looking at it in a literal thought of "pet" monkeys it won't fit you. But if you're coming to it after looking for more books to read aloud to your rambunctious children after reading "Caps for Sale", and "Curious George" or even "Five Little Monkeys" then you are in for a real treat.
March 23, 2019
Such naughty monkeys! Miss 4 wasn't too in love with the text but she enjoyed the pictures.
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.
December 14, 2020
I had this read to me by Benedict Cumberbatch on YouTube https://youtu.be/_ZvrCI98094 and despite his lovely voice, it was just ok. For kids' books, when they're longer I can like stories that don't really go anywhere and just take you on a ride, but when they are shorter, if they don't have some morale or other added value, they feel a bit pointless.
February 13, 2018
February 2018 - if you're waiting for a moral at the end of this story, walk away. There's no lesson learned (other than if you keep monkeys as pets, you have to expect a lot of mischief). I love the illustrations, and Ben thinks it's hilarious.
October 1, 2020
When Benedict Cumberbatch reads a book - you have to listen. The book itself was okay - but the way he read it made me like it more! watch here if you're interested:https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=643...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews