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Monkey Puzzle
Monkey Puzzle
Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
34 people are currently reading
1501 people want to read
About the author
Julia Donaldson
1,239 books1,942 followersGrowing up
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 351 reviews
June 14, 2020
Another brilliant picture book by Donaldson and Scheffler.
A lost baby monkey seeks help from a butterfly as they try and reunite with their mother.
The clever aspect of this tale is the butterfly being unsure who they're looking for as their babies differ from them.
It's a great educational journey throughout the jungle as the pair meet a variety of species.
A lost baby monkey seeks help from a butterfly as they try and reunite with their mother.
The clever aspect of this tale is the butterfly being unsure who they're looking for as their babies differ from them.
It's a great educational journey throughout the jungle as the pair meet a variety of species.
February 16, 2020
When little monkey can't find his mother, butterfly offers to help in the search. Little monkey says that his mother is big, so butterfly leads him to... an elephant. No, that's not right! Little monkey says his mom is furry, so butterfly leads him to... a bat.
Where's My Mom? is a sweet and funny rhyming tale about a little monkey trying to find his mom. My kids love it, and so do I. 5 stars!
Where's My Mom? is a sweet and funny rhyming tale about a little monkey trying to find his mom. My kids love it, and so do I. 5 stars!
September 1, 2019
First and foremost narrationally, textually poetic and engagingly sweetly entertaining (and yes indeed, this is in my opinion generally the case with regard to Julia Donaldson's delightful picture books), Where's My Mom is actually and in fact also not just a fun and rollicking little account of how one lost little baby monkey is finally (after much searching and many so-called false starts) reunited with her mother (and yes, I am going to assume that the little monkey in question is female and not male), since Where's My Mom (which in the U.K. is titled Monkey Puzzle) also demonstrates in an entertaining but also educational and enlightening manner how misunderstandings, errors and assumptions can make and create difficulties of communication and interaction. For the little baby monkey of Where's My Mom does not bother telling the butterfly that has been helping her to find her mother that monkey babies physically resemble their parents (because she assumes that the butterfly would of course be well aware of that) and the butterfly also does not make that essential and necessary connection, since while baby monkeys are indeed and in fact physically diminutive mirror images of their parents, the offspring of butterflies, caterpillars, do of course not at all resemble their parents (until after their pupefication), leading to all kinds of misunderstandings and erroneous searches (an elephant, a snake, a spider, a parrot, a frog, a bat) until the mystery is finally solved (when the little monkey finally mentions that her mother looks exactly like her, just much taller and more massive). Accompanied and graced by Axel Scheffler's colourful and imaginatively realistic illustrations (which are truly as much of an aesthetic delight as are the author's, as are Julia Donaldson's engaging and descriptive verses), Where's My Mom is in my opinion a perfect read-aloud and a fun way of for one explaining how misunderstandings and not enough presented information can cause confusion and for two, Where's my Mom also introduces some basic zoology to very young children (namely that not all animals have offspring that look like miniature versions of themselves).
September 25, 2022
3.5/5
a delightful read.
a delightful read.
June 29, 2021
Another very lovely, entrancing and enchanting story from the ever reliable pen of Donaldson and the accomplished brush of Scheffler.
'Monkey Puzzle' isn't quite up there with the very best of Donaldson/Scheffler (Gruffalo, Snail and the Whale etc.) - but it's not far off.
A lovely children's story book that ticks all the boxes.
'Monkey Puzzle' isn't quite up there with the very best of Donaldson/Scheffler (Gruffalo, Snail and the Whale etc.) - but it's not far off.
A lovely children's story book that ticks all the boxes.
Read
February 22, 2024Прогавили ідеальний час для цієї книжки, десь варто у 1,5-2 роки читати. А так парочка Джулія Дональдсон та Аксель Шеффдер ван лав.
July 22, 2015
This was a big hit at story time. I was worried it would be too long, but the rhymes kept the littler ones engaged, and the older ones liked the story. Several of the adults laughed out loud multiple times!
December 30, 2018
This continues to be my favourite Julia Donaldson book. I can't remember how many times I have read it to my Kindy classes over the years (even if I ended up giggling more than they did) and - with added theatrics - year six enjoyed it just as much. It's lovely to see the older kids choosing to read picture books!
October 5, 2018
Gülməli və gözəl illustrasiyalı bir hekayə. Uşaqlara heyvanları tanımağa və səsləndirməyə kömək edə bilər. Vaqif bala çox sevdi. Maksimum xal verməməyimin tək səbəbi odur ki, sonu çox adi bitdi, yaradıcı olmaq olardı :)
December 13, 2019
„Къде е мама?” – няма дете, което да не е задавало този въпрос. А май няма и възрастен, който да не си спомня някой миг на притеснение от детството, когато се е събудил на непознато място или пък се е заплеснал и отклонил неусетно в голям магазин... Ето с такъв миг на страх и несигурност започва и „Къде е мама?” – новата детска книга на изд. „Жанет 45”, приветствано попълнение към поредицата на писателката Джулия Доналдсън и художника Алекс Шефлър. Но вместо с изгубило се момченце или момиченце, популярното дуо ще ни срещнат с една симпатична маймунка, заблудила се из гъстата джунгла. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
August 24, 2022
What a great combination Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are and they continue their superb partnership with 'Monkey Puzzle' in which a little monkey loses his Mum. The ever-helpful butterfly tries to reunited monkey with her but because Butterfly's youngsters do not look like her she tries all sorts of different animals before little monkey puts her right and tells her that they don't look like me and my Mum does.
This sets Butterfly off in a different direction and she quickly solves the problem.
'Monkey Puzzle' is a lovely story about how one values one's Mum - I must admit I still miss mine! - and, of course, it has a very happy ending with little monkey, in her arms, exclaiming delightfully, 'Mum!'
This sets Butterfly off in a different direction and she quickly solves the problem.
'Monkey Puzzle' is a lovely story about how one values one's Mum - I must admit I still miss mine! - and, of course, it has a very happy ending with little monkey, in her arms, exclaiming delightfully, 'Mum!'
January 22, 2020
Little monkey has lost his mum but a passing butterfly tells him that she will help him to find her. The only clue that Little Monkey can give butterfly is 'She's big! Bigger than me.'
This leads butterfly on a wild goose, or more appropriately to begin with, a wild elephant, chase. Little monkey has to tell him that it isn't his mum and he gives butterfly another clue - 'her tail coils round the trees'.
Once more this misleads butterfly as she produces a snake, so Little Monkey has to tell him that his mum has more legs than that. Once more this is confusing to butterfly who produces a spider. 'No, no, no! ... 'she'd rather eat fruit than swallow a fly, And she lives in the treetops way up high' is Little Monkey's next clue.
After a parrot is produced, Little Monkey tells butterfly that his mum 'leaps about'. Once more butterfly gets it wrong and produces a frog. 'Brown fur' is Little Monkey's next clue but the creature hanging upside down in a tree isn't his mum; 'she's not nearly so small' explains little monkey.
So butterfly returns to the biggest creature that he first discovered; 'NO, NO NO!' says Little Monkey who goes on to say that none of the creatures he has produced 'looks like me'. That is just enough for butterfly who did not realise that was the case. But even then she gets it wrong for she takes Little Monkey to ... his dad!
However, dad is able to take Little Monkey home where he finds 'MUM!'.
At long last his search is over! He is happy.
Another good fun book from that most entertaining Donaldson/Scheffler partnership.
This leads butterfly on a wild goose, or more appropriately to begin with, a wild elephant, chase. Little monkey has to tell him that it isn't his mum and he gives butterfly another clue - 'her tail coils round the trees'.
Once more this misleads butterfly as she produces a snake, so Little Monkey has to tell him that his mum has more legs than that. Once more this is confusing to butterfly who produces a spider. 'No, no, no! ... 'she'd rather eat fruit than swallow a fly, And she lives in the treetops way up high' is Little Monkey's next clue.
After a parrot is produced, Little Monkey tells butterfly that his mum 'leaps about'. Once more butterfly gets it wrong and produces a frog. 'Brown fur' is Little Monkey's next clue but the creature hanging upside down in a tree isn't his mum; 'she's not nearly so small' explains little monkey.
So butterfly returns to the biggest creature that he first discovered; 'NO, NO NO!' says Little Monkey who goes on to say that none of the creatures he has produced 'looks like me'. That is just enough for butterfly who did not realise that was the case. But even then she gets it wrong for she takes Little Monkey to ... his dad!
However, dad is able to take Little Monkey home where he finds 'MUM!'.
At long last his search is over! He is happy.
Another good fun book from that most entertaining Donaldson/Scheffler partnership.
August 16, 2019
Da gefallen mir die anderen Bücher von den beiden Autoren aber besser. Diese Geschichte haut auch unseren Knirps nicht vom Hocker.
January 23, 2026
Loved this one thought the last page with the leaves was SO funny, also can totally relate to the butterfly’s babies since apparently I also look nothing like my mum x
August 27, 2025
This book is pure love for our family!.. We’ve been reading it for over a decade, and somehow it never gets old. We even own it in three languages!
Both my boys can recite it by heart - we quote it on walks, act it out at home, and sometimes draw every single animal from its pages, including the little monkey’s parents. It’s a joy to revisit every time.
Axel Scheffler’s illustrations are bright, warm, and instantly recognizable, and the Donaldson–Scheffler magic works perfectly here. For us, it’s not just a book - it’s a memory capsule.
Both my boys can recite it by heart - we quote it on walks, act it out at home, and sometimes draw every single animal from its pages, including the little monkey’s parents. It’s a joy to revisit every time.
Axel Scheffler’s illustrations are bright, warm, and instantly recognizable, and the Donaldson–Scheffler magic works perfectly here. For us, it’s not just a book - it’s a memory capsule.
September 1, 2015
Monkey puzzle is the tale of a young monkey who searches for his mum with the help of a butterfly. Confusion unfolds as the butterfly uses only the most immediate piece of information when looking for the monkey's mum, for example 'She's big!' declares the monkey 'bigger than me' and using this information the butterfly takes the monkey to an elephant.
This pattern continues with humour and rhyme as the animal pair meet numerous other animals until the monkey is finally reunited with its mum and dad.
The story was great fun to read, with lots of opportunity for children to interact with the story, such as declaring what each animal is. As always with this collection of titles from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler which includes the critically acclaimed 'The Gruffalo', the illustration is vibrant and brings to life the animal characters. The characters are all which the children can relate to; the monkey in search of its mother could be the children themselves, and the helpful adult butterfly can be likened to police, teachers or other adults who would help the child.
The use of descriptive language can be used in class as a learning tool when covering a wide range of vocabulary tasks, from its use of quatrains and other rhyming to the vast array of descriptions which can be used when teaching about adjectives, nouns and verbs.
This pattern continues with humour and rhyme as the animal pair meet numerous other animals until the monkey is finally reunited with its mum and dad.
The story was great fun to read, with lots of opportunity for children to interact with the story, such as declaring what each animal is. As always with this collection of titles from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler which includes the critically acclaimed 'The Gruffalo', the illustration is vibrant and brings to life the animal characters. The characters are all which the children can relate to; the monkey in search of its mother could be the children themselves, and the helpful adult butterfly can be likened to police, teachers or other adults who would help the child.
The use of descriptive language can be used in class as a learning tool when covering a wide range of vocabulary tasks, from its use of quatrains and other rhyming to the vast array of descriptions which can be used when teaching about adjectives, nouns and verbs.
September 25, 2013
This is an endearing story about a monkey who loses his Mum and is helped by a butterfly to try and find her. Throughout the book, other animals are introduced using describing what they look like. This allows the children to interact with the story and guess what the next animal may be.
I really enjoyed reading this book and reading it to a class of children because they seem to enjoy it and engage with the story. I would say that the most appropriate age for this book would be around 3-6 years. However, I have read it to 1 and 2 year old children and they have engaged with the it. I think it just depends on the child and if they are happy to sit and listen to a story.
This book is nice for an end of the day story as the children enjoy looking at the pictures and become involved in the story. It could also be used for literacy. I have previously seen this book used for storyboards for KS1 pupils. It is also a good book to introduce descriptive writing.
I really enjoyed reading this book and reading it to a class of children because they seem to enjoy it and engage with the story. I would say that the most appropriate age for this book would be around 3-6 years. However, I have read it to 1 and 2 year old children and they have engaged with the it. I think it just depends on the child and if they are happy to sit and listen to a story.
This book is nice for an end of the day story as the children enjoy looking at the pictures and become involved in the story. It could also be used for literacy. I have previously seen this book used for storyboards for KS1 pupils. It is also a good book to introduce descriptive writing.
December 2, 2012
This book is about a monkey who has lost his mum. Butterfly decides to help him find her, monkey says that his mother is big so butterfly leads him to an elephant. Monkey says no,no,no that's not my mum,he says that his mum is furry, so butterfly leads him to a spider. That's not my mum says monkeys,shes not black and shes not fat. Butterfly and monkey then meet lots of different jungle animals whilst searching for monkey's mum but it isnt untill monkey describes his mum that butterfly is able to fully understand what monkey's mum looks like.
The age range for this book is 3-4 (Nursery). The book can be used to teach children about different kinds of animals in the jungle and they can use can role-play to re-tell the story.
The age range for this book is 3-4 (Nursery). The book can be used to teach children about different kinds of animals in the jungle and they can use can role-play to re-tell the story.
May 9, 2020
Read at Preschool Story Time on 7/11/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at rainforest-themed story times during daycare visit on 7/17/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at rainforest-themed story times during daycare visit on 7/17/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
August 6, 2015
I read this book with a group of 4-6 year old children. We loved using the clues to guess who the butterfly would find based on the information it was given.
It also had a lovely link that although many babies look like their mum/dad, the butterfly's children are caterpillars.
It also had a lovely link that although many babies look like their mum/dad, the butterfly's children are caterpillars.
June 1, 2024
Another banger from Julia Donaldson. A little monkey has lost his mum and butterfly takes him on a chaotic journey trying to find her. Lovely structured, rhyming storytelling, vibrant illustration, a bit of humour, and a warm ending. A perfect little read.
library-to-read
September 2, 2019for Donaldson month in pbc and because Gundula says there's value about communication and zoology
June 14, 2023
Bardzo dobry przekład, czapki z głów dla Michała Rusinka. Identyczny motyw poszukiwania mamy jak w "Trochę się zgubiłam" Chrisa Haughtona, przez "Zagubiona małpka" nie była dla Małej Czytelniczki specjalnie nowym odkryciem.
July 21, 2018
Es hermoso. Super dulce.
February 13, 2022
Страхотна книга, дъщеря ми на 1г. И 10 месеца ми я носи поне по 2 пъти дневно да я четем.
Read
February 6, 2026some of yall can def relate
October 28, 2020
For some reason you didnt like this. God knows why.
April 10, 2025
Persoonlijk ben ik meer fan van Mama kwijt, die hetzelfde verhaal vertelt.
Deze is wat uitgebreider, kleurrijker, en in rijm, maar: hij doet me te hard aan GenAI denken. Je stelt een vraag, krijgt fout antwoordt, geeft een extra tip, en krijgt een antwoord waarbij geen rekening meer wordt gehouden met de initiële info.
Maar onze kleintjes waren wel fan, dus toch vaak gelezen met veel enthousiasme van hun kant, tot ik me daar bijna bij kon neerleggen.
En wat ik er het leukste aan vond: .
Deze is wat uitgebreider, kleurrijker, en in rijm, maar: hij doet me te hard aan GenAI denken. Je stelt een vraag, krijgt fout antwoordt, geeft een extra tip, en krijgt een antwoord waarbij geen rekening meer wordt gehouden met de initiële info.
Maar onze kleintjes waren wel fan, dus toch vaak gelezen met veel enthousiasme van hun kant, tot ik me daar bijna bij kon neerleggen.
En wat ik er het leukste aan vond: .
March 2, 2021
Обичам мама!
February 2, 2021
No auge de seus quase cinco meses (!), o preferido da minha filha.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 351 reviews