What do you think?
Rate this book
That's Not My...
That's Not My Monkey...
Young readers may touch various surfaces on monkeys that are not the one someone is looking for, until at last the right one appears.
10 pages, Board book
First published May 1, 2008
16 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Watt
1,288 books79 followersFiona Watt is an Editorial Director and writer at Usborne Publishing. She started working at Usborne in 1989 and has written and edited hundreds of books including baby and novelty, sticker, art and craft, cookery, science and activity books.
Fiona graduated from Exeter University with a B.Ed. (Hons.), specialising in Psychology and Art and Design. After university she worked as a researcher and writer for a company which published educational material for places where children went on school visits (zoos, museums, stately homes etc). She then taught seven, eight, and nine year olds for five years; three years at a state school in Sevenoaks in Kent, and two years at The British School in the Netherlands in The Hague.
Having joined Usborne in 1989, Fiona became an editorial director in 2003, largely responsible for writing baby and novelty books, as well as art and activity titles. She has written over 100 titles for Usborne Publishing, perhaps most notably the, ‘That’s not my ….‘ touchy-feely series.
Fiona graduated from Exeter University with a B.Ed. (Hons.), specialising in Psychology and Art and Design. After university she worked as a researcher and writer for a company which published educational material for places where children went on school visits (zoos, museums, stately homes etc). She then taught seven, eight, and nine year olds for five years; three years at a state school in Sevenoaks in Kent, and two years at The British School in the Netherlands in The Hague.
Having joined Usborne in 1989, Fiona became an editorial director in 2003, largely responsible for writing baby and novelty books, as well as art and activity titles. She has written over 100 titles for Usborne Publishing, perhaps most notably the, ‘That’s not my ….‘ touchy-feely series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
December 8, 2010
This book is a suspenseful page turner. It had me hooked from the opening title page, featuring the adorable monkey with too-soft ears. Each page features a different monkey, which is dismissed as "not my monkey" by the narrator. I was drawn into the mystery of whether the unnamed protagonist would ever find the desired monkey, in the midst of all these sinister imposters. Fortunately, the hero of the story is discerning enough to check the various feet, tails, and tongues of the not-my monkeys, discovering each to be too smooth, or rough, or fuzzy to be credible. And, as the book is in fact designed for babies, it does have a [spoiler alert!] happy ending, when the correct monkey (with the appropriately fluffy tummy) is located at last.
There are a number of questions which I feel the plot leaves unresolved, such as why all these monkeys are running amok in the first place. Can you even own a monkey, or are we, as readers, subtly endorsing an ethically questionable black market monkey trade? Why is there a small mouse in each picture? Is the tiny mouse the speaker who is engaging in this quest to find the lost monkey? And how did the main character get separated from the monkey in the first place? All these questions are asked, but never answered. In fairness, however, the book is targeted at the baby touchy-feely reader demographic, who may not have an issue with these omissions, or be willing to overlook them in order to fully inhabit the magical world of smooth-footed and fluffy-stomached primates that the author has created.
I feel that this book, while demonstrably for babies, is really a moral tale for our time. It charts the universal journey in search of that which is real, and encourages its young readers to actively distinguish tangible differences between that which is offered and that which is really desired or needed. It is teaches the virtues of loyalty and perseverance, as you do not just give up and settle for the third or fourth not-my-monkey that comes along.
Also, babies really like to drool and chew on books, moreso than read them, and this book seems very sturdy and hard wearing. I did not, myself, opt to chew on or drool on this copy as it is a gift, but I feel confident that babies would be find it satisfying. I mean, babies will put pretty much anything in their mouths, and this book is fun and cute with lots of bright colors. It is also big and blocky, so you do not need to worry about a baby eating the entire book, or trying to eat the entire book and then choking, as the book itself is much too large for that to be a possibility.
It is also laudable for its gender neutral appeal. Monkeys are presented as being equally accessible for all babies, whether boys or girls, so there is no fear of accidentally pushing the standards of the heteropatriarchy on the just recently born.
I remember reading "Pat the Bunny" when I was little, and this monkey book really shows how far touchy-feely books have come.
There are a number of questions which I feel the plot leaves unresolved, such as why all these monkeys are running amok in the first place. Can you even own a monkey, or are we, as readers, subtly endorsing an ethically questionable black market monkey trade? Why is there a small mouse in each picture? Is the tiny mouse the speaker who is engaging in this quest to find the lost monkey? And how did the main character get separated from the monkey in the first place? All these questions are asked, but never answered. In fairness, however, the book is targeted at the baby touchy-feely reader demographic, who may not have an issue with these omissions, or be willing to overlook them in order to fully inhabit the magical world of smooth-footed and fluffy-stomached primates that the author has created.
I feel that this book, while demonstrably for babies, is really a moral tale for our time. It charts the universal journey in search of that which is real, and encourages its young readers to actively distinguish tangible differences between that which is offered and that which is really desired or needed. It is teaches the virtues of loyalty and perseverance, as you do not just give up and settle for the third or fourth not-my-monkey that comes along.
Also, babies really like to drool and chew on books, moreso than read them, and this book seems very sturdy and hard wearing. I did not, myself, opt to chew on or drool on this copy as it is a gift, but I feel confident that babies would be find it satisfying. I mean, babies will put pretty much anything in their mouths, and this book is fun and cute with lots of bright colors. It is also big and blocky, so you do not need to worry about a baby eating the entire book, or trying to eat the entire book and then choking, as the book itself is much too large for that to be a possibility.
It is also laudable for its gender neutral appeal. Monkeys are presented as being equally accessible for all babies, whether boys or girls, so there is no fear of accidentally pushing the standards of the heteropatriarchy on the just recently born.
I remember reading "Pat the Bunny" when I was little, and this monkey book really shows how far touchy-feely books have come.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 8, 2015Apes are not monkeys, yet both a gorilla and an orangutan are described here as "not my monkey".
The mouse narrator's lamentable grasp of biological classification is demonstrated equally in That's Not My Dinosaur when identifying both a prehistoric marine reptile and a pterosaur as "not my dinosaur".
From a taxonomical point of view, disappointing.
The mouse narrator's lamentable grasp of biological classification is demonstrated equally in That's Not My Dinosaur when identifying both a prehistoric marine reptile and a pterosaur as "not my dinosaur".
From a taxonomical point of view, disappointing.
April 12, 2012
That's Not My Monkey. The narrator's patience and determination to find the right monkey is a existential quest for being/Dasein. Monkeys are societal responsibilities that are flung about incessantly with haste and disregard. It is crucial to not accept every monkey that They (mainstream popular culture) fling at you, and it is laudable that this book highlights the importance of patient discernment and the unique fate of MY monkey.
This book teaches that when you go into a corporate workplace, be ready to say, ‘That’s not my monkey.’ Have it on the tip of your tongue, because as soon as you walk in the door, monkeys are flying through the air. They are flung and leap on your back and won’t let go no matter how hard you work to get rid of them. It’s one big monkey fight. Those that are the most successful are the ones who most skilled at getting rid of monkeys, flinging monkeys with accuracy and strength. The further you throw it, the less likely it is to find its way back to you. Always try to leave work with fewer monkeys than when you started.
The hardest part is knowing when someone is throwing a monkey at you. You have to recognize it and get rid of it as soon as possible. The longer you have it, the harder it is to get rid of. It gets a hold of you, pulling at your hair and poking you in the eye with its tiny fingers. When colleagues witness your struggle, they have pity and think, ‘I’m sure glad that’s not my monkey.’ Then it is yours, and no one else will accept it as their own. You must remain calm and collected, and pick a flustered individual, probably who has too many monkeys, and ask them with firm courtesy to keep an eye on it for a bit. It’s not your monkey, you just found it causing trouble and someone needs to take care of it immediately.
Those with the fewest monkeys are calm, collected and they are always ready with a smart offence. Without monkeys biting and clawing on their shoulder, you can relax and keep stress low. Those people are destined for upper management. The delegate with efficiency and authority. No one questions the monkeys they pass along. They have much bigger and fiercer monkeys to deal with, which are talked about often but are never seen.
The problem I have with this book (I accept fault for not reading the text) is that it does not address the potential for corporate irresponsibility. Rather than searching for the ‘right monkey,’ institutional behaviour is to avoid all monkeys. This is why we are in an economic crisis. People need to search for the monkey that’s right for them, the monkey with the soft tummy, rather than rejecting all monkeys.
Everyone has their own unique potential for existence: my right monkey will be different from yours. The book addresses this in that there is a deliberate search for a specific monkey in the possessive (my). However, what makes YOUR monkey different from MY monkey? The soft tummy. Why is this important to the narrator? Here lies the problem with the book. It offers no solution to the reader, who may or may not be a baby. Saying that all babies like soft tummies is a stereotype that limits potential for babies in existence. Each baby should choose a monkey based on their potential and ultimately their fate. The authors avoidance to address individual fate is hypocritical, as she seems to be passing the monkey.
It’s a monkey fight out there, and we have to be careful not to become monkeys ourselves.
This book teaches that when you go into a corporate workplace, be ready to say, ‘That’s not my monkey.’ Have it on the tip of your tongue, because as soon as you walk in the door, monkeys are flying through the air. They are flung and leap on your back and won’t let go no matter how hard you work to get rid of them. It’s one big monkey fight. Those that are the most successful are the ones who most skilled at getting rid of monkeys, flinging monkeys with accuracy and strength. The further you throw it, the less likely it is to find its way back to you. Always try to leave work with fewer monkeys than when you started.
The hardest part is knowing when someone is throwing a monkey at you. You have to recognize it and get rid of it as soon as possible. The longer you have it, the harder it is to get rid of. It gets a hold of you, pulling at your hair and poking you in the eye with its tiny fingers. When colleagues witness your struggle, they have pity and think, ‘I’m sure glad that’s not my monkey.’ Then it is yours, and no one else will accept it as their own. You must remain calm and collected, and pick a flustered individual, probably who has too many monkeys, and ask them with firm courtesy to keep an eye on it for a bit. It’s not your monkey, you just found it causing trouble and someone needs to take care of it immediately.
Those with the fewest monkeys are calm, collected and they are always ready with a smart offence. Without monkeys biting and clawing on their shoulder, you can relax and keep stress low. Those people are destined for upper management. The delegate with efficiency and authority. No one questions the monkeys they pass along. They have much bigger and fiercer monkeys to deal with, which are talked about often but are never seen.
The problem I have with this book (I accept fault for not reading the text) is that it does not address the potential for corporate irresponsibility. Rather than searching for the ‘right monkey,’ institutional behaviour is to avoid all monkeys. This is why we are in an economic crisis. People need to search for the monkey that’s right for them, the monkey with the soft tummy, rather than rejecting all monkeys.
Everyone has their own unique potential for existence: my right monkey will be different from yours. The book addresses this in that there is a deliberate search for a specific monkey in the possessive (my). However, what makes YOUR monkey different from MY monkey? The soft tummy. Why is this important to the narrator? Here lies the problem with the book. It offers no solution to the reader, who may or may not be a baby. Saying that all babies like soft tummies is a stereotype that limits potential for babies in existence. Each baby should choose a monkey based on their potential and ultimately their fate. The authors avoidance to address individual fate is hypocritical, as she seems to be passing the monkey.
It’s a monkey fight out there, and we have to be careful not to become monkeys ourselves.
June 27, 2014
This is another very cute touch and feel book. The story is about someone trying to find their monkey and all the ones he seems to come across are not his.
The textures used in this series of books are by far some of the better ones I've seen. They did a fantastic job with them. My daughter loves to pet all the monkeys and explore the textures. The book is also very bright and colourful which is very eye catching.
The textures used in this series of books are by far some of the better ones I've seen. They did a fantastic job with them. My daughter loves to pet all the monkeys and explore the textures. The book is also very bright and colourful which is very eye catching.
August 21, 2020
I'm rating this low because half of the illustrations clearly depict great apes not monkeys, CAITLYN.
June 8, 2019
This is the fourth book of this series and I can’t help but remark on the lack of imagination and self-plagiarism by this author. Comparing this book with “That’s Not My Polar Bear”. The first sentence in each ends with “its ears are too soft” and the last words in both books are “its tummy is so fluffy.
I rate both these books the same. Monkey because of the taxonomic confusion between apes and monkeys mentioned in other reviews, and Polar Vear because endangered carnivores shouldn’t be portrayed as cuddly pets. By the way, the toddler correctly identified the gorilla and said “that’s not a monkey!”.
Final recommendation get “That’s Not My Elephant” and forget the rest.
I rate both these books the same. Monkey because of the taxonomic confusion between apes and monkeys mentioned in other reviews, and Polar Vear because endangered carnivores shouldn’t be portrayed as cuddly pets. By the way, the toddler correctly identified the gorilla and said “that’s not a monkey!”.
Final recommendation get “That’s Not My Elephant” and forget the rest.
April 25, 2023
Will all the books I read this year be baby books? Maybe! LOL. Super cute with fun tactile things on the pages.
Jack liked the pages with fuzzy textures the best.
The West family gave him this book.
Jack liked the pages with fuzzy textures the best.
The West family gave him this book.
August 21, 2025
Great, simple book with tactile parts for kids.
October 18, 2020
I am especially fond of the gorilla with bushy eyebrows.
January 4, 2024
I was quite disappointed with this book as some of the animals were not monkeys and in the end it was an orangutan and not a monkey when I wanted a monkey
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2018
"That's Not My Truck" was a hit with my son eons ago, and I was wondering why are there so many books in this series, considering the materials are not that variable.
I guess people are buying them, which is a shame. His nose is too smooth? Come on... Maybe if the animal's coat was red or smooth (implying that it is naked), that would make a difference, but putting in lots of material that feels like cotton or fur is not a big difference. :(
(Read on an Usborne book fair with my little one, she wasn't impressed either.)
I guess people are buying them, which is a shame. His nose is too smooth? Come on... Maybe if the animal's coat was red or smooth (implying that it is naked), that would make a difference, but putting in lots of material that feels like cotton or fur is not a big difference. :(
(Read on an Usborne book fair with my little one, she wasn't impressed either.)
August 22, 2024
Watt the Heck #2
That's Not My #2
This iffy is a genius she wrote one story, and made an empire from it, well a whole bunch of books where she changed the animal, and again a touch and feel book and basically the same words and there you have it.
That's Not My #2
This iffy is a genius she wrote one story, and made an empire from it, well a whole bunch of books where she changed the animal, and again a touch and feel book and basically the same words and there you have it.
March 19, 2017
Another cute entry in the "That's Not My" series.
March 19, 2017
These books are some of my 2 year olds favorites. We have the dragon and the monster one as well. I've read them over and over.
February 28, 2019
Touch and feel! Interactive. May spark conversation.
May 26, 2019
Another great book in the series. Perfect for my little monkey.
November 3, 2019
Turns out, most of them were not my monkey. In fact some of them are not monkeys at all, they're apes. Not very educational, but a great fun read with a lovely twist.
Read
November 14, 2019Clara likes this book a lot. Ryan doesn't like that there are apes in it because they're not monkeys.
Read
March 2, 2021Good fun kids book. Some of the primates are apes though, not monkeys
July 9, 2022
B would laugh at the gorilla in this book with hairy eyebrows.
November 6, 2023
Fun book. My son enjoys the feeling of the textures
January 4, 2024
Fuming. It ended up being an Orangutan, not a monkey. Thanks. Kids crying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2025
Love these "That's not my..." books! Especially great for smaller groups or 1 to 1 story time, as the touch-and-feel-ness of the book is a big part of its appeal. Very simple, short text.
January 29, 2025
Didn’t realize the front cover was page 1, so the plot went crazy. Jayden loved it, but can’t believe the word “Velvety” is in a child’s book…
June 29, 2025
A book full of monkeys where you can touch didn’t parts of them. Not as weird as that sounds. Like a fuzzy tail or belly, smooth feet, etc.
E really likes this one! 10/10
E really likes this one! 10/10
March 22, 2024
This is an adorable little board book with several different textures for the young reader to enjoy. The illustrations are big and bold.
October 23, 2015
A white mouse looking for is monkey. The way it knows if it's his monkey or not, is by "touching and feeling" some of the monkey's body parts. Eyebrows, feet, tummy...
The story starts on the cover, indicating the type of the book straight away. Touch and feel.
The drawings are just ok and serve there purpose. Some of the "wrong" monkeys are not monkeys at all! Noe even the lost monkey is a monkey. It's an orangutan!
Anyway, the 11th month old girl review follows:
"Didn't like the story in the beginning. But after a while I started to follow it more attentively. The drawings are too strong and stole my attention to them. Just like the touch-feel parts. I liked the tongue. The tummy and eyebrows are ok. The rest I didn't notice. My dad kept talking about the small white mouse, but I never saw it. Just the big bright monkey drawings."
The story starts on the cover, indicating the type of the book straight away. Touch and feel.
The drawings are just ok and serve there purpose. Some of the "wrong" monkeys are not monkeys at all! Noe even the lost monkey is a monkey. It's an orangutan!
Anyway, the 11th month old girl review follows:
"Didn't like the story in the beginning. But after a while I started to follow it more attentively. The drawings are too strong and stole my attention to them. Just like the touch-feel parts. I liked the tongue. The tummy and eyebrows are ok. The rest I didn't notice. My dad kept talking about the small white mouse, but I never saw it. Just the big bright monkey drawings."
March 5, 2009
That's Not My Monkey, the appealing book written by Fiona Watt and colorfully illustrated by Rachel Wells, has emphasis on sensory development by touching and feeling various textures. Young readers will touch monkey parts such as a velvety tail, smooth feet, hairy eyebrows, and a fuzzy tongue. None of these traits belong to the proper monkey so the search continues. Is the monkey ever found? You will have to read the book to find out! Check out the entire review on Reading Jungle and also look over the "Jungle Picks" of age-appropriate recommended book lists!
November 7, 2014
My friend used these books for her three children (1 boy and 2 twin girls). Then she passed them on for my son to enjoy.
He loves them we have the lion, kitten and puppy one.
The feely pages not only make the story interactive but it also makes the pages easier to open. My son will often play with his books, opening the pages and feeling the part that has a different texture. We have one of these as a first story to settle down before bed. He also often reaches for them during the day to explore and practice turning pages.
My son has been enjoying this series since he was 6 months old.
He loves them we have the lion, kitten and puppy one.
The feely pages not only make the story interactive but it also makes the pages easier to open. My son will often play with his books, opening the pages and feeling the part that has a different texture. We have one of these as a first story to settle down before bed. He also often reaches for them during the day to explore and practice turning pages.
My son has been enjoying this series since he was 6 months old.
June 13, 2015
A simple though lovely sensory book that is ideal for babies and toodlers as well as SEN children. The bright illustartions and repetitive text make a lovely book to follow and keep the young reader engaged. It may also be used for partially sighted chidlren who will appreciate the differernt textures on parts of the animals in the book on a journey to find the monkey.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews