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The Chimpanzees of Happytown
Popular children's book team Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees present another irresistible rhyming, fun-to-read story!
The chimpanzees of Drabsville are miserable. The wicked mayor won't allow them to have any fun! Playgrounds, trees, and colors other than gray are outlawed in their gloomy town. However, when a traveler named Chutney dares to plant a tree, Drabsville begins to blossom into a colorful land of dancing, playing, and laughing. There's only one name for such a place--Happytown!
The chimpanzees of Drabsville are miserable. The wicked mayor won't allow them to have any fun! Playgrounds, trees, and colors other than gray are outlawed in their gloomy town. However, when a traveler named Chutney dares to plant a tree, Drabsville begins to blossom into a colorful land of dancing, playing, and laughing. There's only one name for such a place--Happytown!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 4, 2006
13 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Giles Andreae
226 books156 followersGiles Andreae is the author of several children's books, including the best-selling Giraffes Can't Dance, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees. He is the creator of Purple Ronnie, one of the most successfully licensed cartoon characters in his native England.
Giles lives with his wife and three children in Notting Hill, England.
Giles lives with his wife and three children in Notting Hill, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 24, 2013
In The Chimpanzees of Happytown a Chimpanzee is living a miserable existence in a miserable town where everything looks the same and nobody has any creativity. He decides to plant a seed but the Mayor throws him in jail for defying his rules. While he is in jail some children water the seed and it spreads colour and joy throughout the town. The Chimpanzee is released from jail and overthrows the Mayor, imprisoning him instead.
I can understand why some people may not like this book as it is political but I think it is brilliant. I'd have rather had the Mayor learn a lesson for a happier ending but things don't always work out in real life or in fiction.
The rhyming is spot on and the colours and overall message of being individual will appeal to children.
I recommend this for KS1 children and it could be used to support PSHE lessons about individuality. It could also be used for KS2 children to debate whether they would have imprisoned the Mayor and the rights and wrongs of this approach and to illustrate historical oppressive regimes in a way that will not upset younger children.
I can understand why some people may not like this book as it is political but I think it is brilliant. I'd have rather had the Mayor learn a lesson for a happier ending but things don't always work out in real life or in fiction.
The rhyming is spot on and the colours and overall message of being individual will appeal to children.
I recommend this for KS1 children and it could be used to support PSHE lessons about individuality. It could also be used for KS2 children to debate whether they would have imprisoned the Mayor and the rights and wrongs of this approach and to illustrate historical oppressive regimes in a way that will not upset younger children.
February 6, 2020
Stark comparison between going through the motions of life and living life. Cute message. Fun illustrations. Could be used to have a conversation about what changes we want to see in our own community to make it a little more “happy”.
October 27, 2018
Verneri-apina haluaa tehdä Ankeelasta Onnelan. Kun synkeä pormestari menee lomille, on aika uudistaa koko kaupunki. Tuli vähän mieleen o Menino e o Mundo -animaation väri- ja kuvamaailma.
April 14, 2020
My little girl and I love this books. The sentences are fun and rolls off the tongue. We enjoyed the story a lot
June 30, 2020
I loved this book when I was younger. This is a classic in my family, we love this book so much. It’s a book that I will definitely read my kids, and I hope they read it to their kids.
October 14, 2020
Story told in rhyme. Going from a grey home to a colourful town.
January 13, 2021
nice.............
January 23, 2023
This was my favorite book growing up! I love the illustrations on every page. The book starts off dark and gray and then becomes full of color! This is a great book for elementary school students.
June 11, 2015
The Chimpanzees of happy town is a book celebrating difference - in the beginning the town is called 'Drabsville' and is grey and miserable, with noone who lives there being happy with the situation.
A new chimp arrives with a seed which he plants and grows a beautiful, colourful tree, which the town's mayor sees as a threat and puts our travelling chimp in jail! However other residents of Drabsville love the colourful plant and help it grow, and it gives them the courage to transform their town into a happy, colourful and fun place - 'Happytown'. Happytown provides all the fun things drabsville didn't, colour, playpark and happiness for the residents... There is even redemption for the town's grumpy mayor who'd put our hero in jail who ends the book understanding the benefits of the new environment.
The illustrations in the book are very busy, with plenty to look at, think about and discuss with a class e.g. do the chimps look happy or sad? why might they look that way? and leading into discussions around personal feelings - what makes us feel sad / happy? alongside questions around change and personal preference etc.
This book links in with themes like animals / the zoo etc. and offers some interesting other areas for investigation and discussion.
A new chimp arrives with a seed which he plants and grows a beautiful, colourful tree, which the town's mayor sees as a threat and puts our travelling chimp in jail! However other residents of Drabsville love the colourful plant and help it grow, and it gives them the courage to transform their town into a happy, colourful and fun place - 'Happytown'. Happytown provides all the fun things drabsville didn't, colour, playpark and happiness for the residents... There is even redemption for the town's grumpy mayor who'd put our hero in jail who ends the book understanding the benefits of the new environment.
The illustrations in the book are very busy, with plenty to look at, think about and discuss with a class e.g. do the chimps look happy or sad? why might they look that way? and leading into discussions around personal feelings - what makes us feel sad / happy? alongside questions around change and personal preference etc.
This book links in with themes like animals / the zoo etc. and offers some interesting other areas for investigation and discussion.
March 23, 2014
The striking,beautiful and amazing pictures on each page clearly tells the story which will appeal to the children from nursery to about 8. It unfolds in a town where the mayor arrests a chimpanzee (Chutney) who had planted a tree in a town that looked dull and had no trees and all that lived there were sad. His neighbours continued to water the the plant and it blossomed beautifully into a large plant. When Chutney comes out of prison inspired by the colourful plant he urges the other chimpanzees to transform their town where they go on to rebuild their town by redecorating and painting their houses to make them happy. They also demolish the palace and build a beautiful playground for children. They are now all happy and celebrate with a party. The only unhappy person is the mayor who when he comes from holiday is arrested and when he later comes out, the new mayor Chutney shows him the beautifully tranformed town.
It will teach children about caring for nature and the the benefit of working together and digging deep into themseves to find ways to solve problems by being creative and imaginative. This will also help them to work independently and not rely only on adults.
It will teach children about caring for nature and the the benefit of working together and digging deep into themseves to find ways to solve problems by being creative and imaginative. This will also help them to work independently and not rely only on adults.
October 15, 2011
My children and I love this book and have read it many, many times. The illustrations are engaging, colourful and entertaining, the words are fantastically rhythmic and the story rolls along beautifully.
The main character, Chester the Chimpanzee is a wonderful, inspiring lead character and the moral of this lovely story is that no matter what, things will find a way of breaking out and achieving their dreams, no matter what gets in their way. I love this moral as I try to teach my children this daily, to work hard and aim high, and this little monkey proves its possible!
I bought mine from ebay for about £3 after constantly borrowing it from the library and have bought other books in the series too as a consequence of this one. Another great book by this author and illustrator is called Giraffes Can't dance, the moral being on the same lines. Great things to teach a child, and the book is so funny and beautifully put together, your kids will not even realise they are learning about life!
The main character, Chester the Chimpanzee is a wonderful, inspiring lead character and the moral of this lovely story is that no matter what, things will find a way of breaking out and achieving their dreams, no matter what gets in their way. I love this moral as I try to teach my children this daily, to work hard and aim high, and this little monkey proves its possible!
I bought mine from ebay for about £3 after constantly borrowing it from the library and have bought other books in the series too as a consequence of this one. Another great book by this author and illustrator is called Giraffes Can't dance, the moral being on the same lines. Great things to teach a child, and the book is so funny and beautifully put together, your kids will not even realise they are learning about life!
July 26, 2013
My children and I love this book and have read it many, many times. The illustrations are engaging, colorful and entertaining, the words are fantastically rhythmic and the story rolls along beautifully.
There is no fun in Drabsville. The mayor has outlawed plants, toys and anything colorful. But a traveler named Chutney dared to plant a seed. He was thrown into prison for his heinous crime.
However, there were children who had seen the deed and dared to water Chutney's seed. It grew into a beautiful blooming tree. The Chimpanzees of Drabsville found that there was a better way to live.
They planted gardens and painted their houses. They changed the name of their town to Happytown. Chutney was the leader who showed them how their individuality and freedom of expression added to society and made their town a happier place to be.
There is no fun in Drabsville. The mayor has outlawed plants, toys and anything colorful. But a traveler named Chutney dared to plant a seed. He was thrown into prison for his heinous crime.
However, there were children who had seen the deed and dared to water Chutney's seed. It grew into a beautiful blooming tree. The Chimpanzees of Drabsville found that there was a better way to live.
They planted gardens and painted their houses. They changed the name of their town to Happytown. Chutney was the leader who showed them how their individuality and freedom of expression added to society and made their town a happier place to be.
February 16, 2016
Purely on the surface, this book is beautiful, colourful, catchy, clever and easy for Mom to memorize and recite in the car. (which I have done countless times) Both of my kids really liked this. Ultimately the book is about celebrating rather than punishing or hiding differences. I tend to have a bit of an issue with books that have social messaging for kids and I feel no differently about this one but in this case the message is age appropriate and not overly politically correct or progressive. Just be aware that it is there, and that you are prepared to answer any questions that arise... Mom/Dad shouldn't be seen by their kids as the "mayor"
February 14, 2014
This is a truly special book. We have read it over and over, and it remains one of my Son's favorites. As well as being a Mum, I am a Speech Therapist, and this book was really good for enveloping my Son's vocabulary. We searched the little shop windows for all kinds of things, and could play "I see a.............." Can you find it game, and just keep seeing and finding new things to talk about. As for Chutney, we just LOVE him.
Fantastic story, beautifully illustrated. A must for the family library :)
Fantastic story, beautifully illustrated. A must for the family library :)
March 11, 2012
A heavy-handed message from an adult perspective, but perhaps children will enjoy this story of "Drabsville, USA" and its transformation from a grey sad place to bright and cheery "Happytown." Planting one flowering tree starts the chain of events leading to the change. Large format with bright colors and smiling chimps, this would be good for an Earth Day read aloud.
March 10, 2013
This is another one of my favorite books! I love that it teaches the lesson of accepting differences and not being afraid to stand up for those differences. The illustrations are colorful and relate to the story in a fantastic way. I could easily see myself using this as a read aloud in my classroom. Great book!
April 28, 2015
This is an uplifting story about the power of sowing an idea and having faith it will grow, even when the odds are against you. It's also a fun, rhyming read-aloud which I will definitely read to my young sons time and time again and for myself too, whenever I need motivation and encouragement to follow through with my goals.
September 30, 2007
I read it nearly everyday with my nearly two-year old daughter. It is full of fantastic rhyming writing.
"And things will always blossom if we dare to set them free. It's no different for a flower than for a chimpanzee"
"And things will always blossom if we dare to set them free. It's no different for a flower than for a chimpanzee"
July 14, 2009
An excellent children's book extolling the virtues of individual contributions to society through freedom of expression. Also a nice piece to demonstrate an extremely simplistic contrast between the Soviet Bloc existence and Western culture.
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July 28, 2011This pretty much sums it up: "I hope you know that everything that we cut down will find a way to grow. And things will always blossom if we dare to set them free. It's no different for a little flower than for a chimpanzee." Direct quote from the book. Love it. Great little book.
October 6, 2014
I got this from the library for my one year old...we've read it almost every single day for the last 6 months....we bought our own copy of course! Nice story, great illustrations and its full of monies!
March 30, 2008
FABULOUS - one of my favorite kids books ever! The author-illustrator combo do great work. Check out Giraffes Can't Dance as well.
April 3, 2010
A monkey in a purple vest comes to town with his guitar. He plants a tree and an idea.
March 11, 2012
I loved the message in this book about individuality and freedom of expression. My son loves this book as much as I do which makes me love it even more!
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March 20, 2012Can't go wrong with a Giles Andrae book.
December 28, 2014
sort of a The Lorax but with animals and much, much more brief ;)
July 28, 2023
can't tell me this isn't top tier literature.
November 17, 2009
This book is read nightly in my house, makes everyone happy and has an excellent message.
September 28, 2010
It's a nice story. Very political though!
December 10, 2017
A book about being different and how one's inner light can allow others to shine as well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews