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Monkey & Me
Monkey and Me
24 pages, Board book
First published January 1, 2007
22 people are currently reading
1411 people want to read
About the author
Emily Gravett
79 books278 followersEmily Gravett is twice winner of the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal and the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Bronze Award for WOLVES and LITTLE MOUSE'S BIG BOOK OF FEARS. An author/illustrator of unique talent and tremendous skill, she has a host of critically acclaimed books to her name, including BLUE CHAMELEON, WOLF WON'T BITE! and AGAIN! Emily lives in Brighton with her partner and their daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 311 reviews
June 23, 2019
Spending my wife's birthday reading through a small pile of picture books together. (2 of 5)
A gentle, lyrical, repetitive book meant to soothe a child toward bedtime. A bit dull for adults.
A gentle, lyrical, repetitive book meant to soothe a child toward bedtime. A bit dull for adults.
October 30, 2019
I do preschool reading, okay?! 😁
December 9, 2015
This has such fabulous storytime potential--for toddler and preschool. A good lap-read, too. Very repetitive in words, yes, but that word work well early readers, as well as getting the kids to chant along with you. You could get them to guess the next animal. And every time they see an animal, the kids could act out something (march like penguins, jump like kangaroos, etc.) Oh, it makes me so sad that I have to wait a few more months before my next storytime!
2/1/31 I mentioned the ideas I'd had for this book--the chanting while clapping hands and then the guessing and then the acting out. I think it would have worked well--if I didn't have a bunch of newbies and no regulars!! The newer group didn't clap at all, but they did well in guessing, all right with the imitating. The second group did not consist of newbies, but they are always significantly smaller and either not responsive or a bit too exuberantly responsive. Such potential that unfortunately fell flat.
12/9/15 Used in the literacy moment. I had the children come up one at a time and look at the page where she was pretending and tell me what it looked like she was doing. The word they came up with I had them (or helped them) write it on the board. Because of the number of children, with some I had them tell me an action the actual animal does when we were on their page (e.g. Waddle for Penguin). It went very well and they LOVED writing on the board. Every one had a turn by the time we got to monkeys. They smiled at the ending.
2/1/31 I mentioned the ideas I'd had for this book--the chanting while clapping hands and then the guessing and then the acting out. I think it would have worked well--if I didn't have a bunch of newbies and no regulars!! The newer group didn't clap at all, but they did well in guessing, all right with the imitating. The second group did not consist of newbies, but they are always significantly smaller and either not responsive or a bit too exuberantly responsive. Such potential that unfortunately fell flat.
12/9/15 Used in the literacy moment. I had the children come up one at a time and look at the page where she was pretending and tell me what it looked like she was doing. The word they came up with I had them (or helped them) write it on the board. Because of the number of children, with some I had them tell me an action the actual animal does when we were on their page (e.g. Waddle for Penguin). It went very well and they LOVED writing on the board. Every one had a turn by the time we got to monkeys. They smiled at the ending.
July 31, 2015
This book is really just a repetition of "Monkey and me" with a slight change in the last few words of the sentence. Both the three year old and the six year old were bored by it, and I was very happy to be done with it.
Not every kids book has to have a plot and riveting writing, but this one wasn't so much a book as a jumble of words with boring illustrations. Gravett writes some great stuff, but this one was just terrible.
Not every kids book has to have a plot and riveting writing, but this one wasn't so much a book as a jumble of words with boring illustrations. Gravett writes some great stuff, but this one was just terrible.
January 11, 2018
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A little girl and her stuffed monkey pretend to be different animals... until they are a too sleepy to play any longer.
I found the drawings to be marvelous and worth owning this book for them alone! I love the sketchy vibe of the illustrations paired with the softness of watercolor or almost chalk like colors. I was a little disappointed in the text of the story. I don't mind repetitive or sing-song words but none of the words the child learns is of much worth.
I would have liked some strong verbs to be used like jumping for the kangaroos and waddling for the penguins. This could still be repetitive but have a learning angle that would make purchasing it a better investment. Also in the end when the little girl falls asleep I would have preferred the last frame be her laying down for nap time. Then that would make this the perfect before nap or bed time read. We get our wiggles out then we lay down for sleep.
BOTTOM LINE: Animal fun for very young readers...
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March 30, 2008
I love Gravett's 'Orange Pear Apple Bear' and its artistic play on shapes, colors, and an adorable bear, so when I saw 'Monkey and Me'on the shelf at a favorite bookstore, I was excited to open the binding and take a peek. I was instantly delighted by this simple, engaging story. The artwork and storyline follow the companionship between a girl and her toy monkey as they are off to see different animals. The repetition in the text pulls young readers into a feeling of suspense, while the girl and her monkey's actions give a entertaining clue to what comes next. I thought that after the surprises of the first reading had been discovered, my kids might lose interest in the book, but my three year old has been chanting the words, in a sing-song voice, 'monkey and me, monkey and me,' and asking to read it over and over. He loves anticipating the full-page spreads of kangaroos, bats, and, of course, monkeys!
April 7, 2008
Young readers will enjoy the repetition and sing-song rhythm of Monkey and Me. They can also guess which animal the little girl and her monkey are pretending to be, and follow along by acting like the animals themselves. The whimsical illustrations add to the fun and creativity of this book.
Summary from SPL: A little girl and her toy monkey love imitating different animals, everything from jumping like kangaroos to waddling like penguins.
Booklist: This review was positive about the “rhythmic, patterned text” that makes this a great read-aloud book, and called the illustrations “expressive” and “charming,” even though the ending is “a bit of a letdown.”
Publisher’s Weekly: This review was less critical, primarily describing the plot and the illustrations in the book. It noted that even though the girl and her monkey fall asleep at the end, “the game has not ended: a real monkey watches them, a huge and contagious grin on his face.”
Summary from SPL: A little girl and her toy monkey love imitating different animals, everything from jumping like kangaroos to waddling like penguins.
Booklist: This review was positive about the “rhythmic, patterned text” that makes this a great read-aloud book, and called the illustrations “expressive” and “charming,” even though the ending is “a bit of a letdown.”
Publisher’s Weekly: This review was less critical, primarily describing the plot and the illustrations in the book. It noted that even though the girl and her monkey fall asleep at the end, “the game has not ended: a real monkey watches them, a huge and contagious grin on his face.”
January 18, 2015
Emily Garvett does a wonderful job with telling and illustrating Monkey and Me. I love the use of play that the child uses in pretending to be like the animals they are going to see.
From waddling like penguins to hoping and carrying the monkey like a kangaroo. From hanging upside down like a bat to holding onto each other like elephants following behind each other. From hanging around just like a monkey to falling asleep on one another.
I really love the use of shading and showing how the little girl drew the adventures described in the book at the end. The coloring is great as well. With a handful of colors Emily Gravett really does focus more on portraying the animals and giving true understanding for the reader of what each animal does.
I recommend Monkey and Me to any child who enjoys and loves animals, especially monkeys.
Review originally posted at: http://tiffanyfoxbooks.blogspot.com/2...
From waddling like penguins to hoping and carrying the monkey like a kangaroo. From hanging upside down like a bat to holding onto each other like elephants following behind each other. From hanging around just like a monkey to falling asleep on one another.
I really love the use of shading and showing how the little girl drew the adventures described in the book at the end. The coloring is great as well. With a handful of colors Emily Gravett really does focus more on portraying the animals and giving true understanding for the reader of what each animal does.
I recommend Monkey and Me to any child who enjoys and loves animals, especially monkeys.
Review originally posted at: http://tiffanyfoxbooks.blogspot.com/2...
June 22, 2019
Meh. This had some cute illustrations, but that's about it. I love some of Gravett's books (Wolves, Dogs, Meerkat Mail) but most of her simpler books that appear designed for very young children don't do much for me.
May 7, 2008
The generally wonderful Emily Gravett has a fun new picturebook that works perfectly for the toddler set. Monkey and Me is a simple text about a little girl and her stuffed monkey. Each page features the same rhyme leading up to a different animal that the two are pretending to be. Children can try to guess the animal based on the illustrated actions. The watercolor illustrations are sweet and exhuberant.
June 10, 2009
I fell in love with this book with the first sight, and my son (then 16-months old) too. For the last several months this book travels from the library and back. I will most likely have to buy it at the end.
The pictures are cheerful, lively and tell the story of a girl playing with her toy monkey all by themselves, but words in the simple sentences, repeating in merry rhythm help along the way.
The pictures are cheerful, lively and tell the story of a girl playing with her toy monkey all by themselves, but words in the simple sentences, repeating in merry rhythm help along the way.
June 20, 2008
Gravett is great: she got the concept of "concept books" down! There is a bit of a "guessing game" at each two spreads: before turning to see what the next animals they went to see -- one can try to guess by the posture/gesture of "ME." A nice little book.
July 24, 2008
My Lil' Peeps storytime loved this book. The text offers repetition - great for print motivation. Children get involved in telling the story. The pictures give clues as to what animal might be next, and the kids in my storytime liked moving like the animals.
January 20, 2009
Simple story, but nothing special I'm afraid. A little girl takes her stuffed monkey to see other animals like elephants and eventually monkeys, imitating each animal, then falls asleep. The illustrations are cute, but not very colorful or engaging for the youngest picture book audience.
November 22, 2009
Great book for Story Times because of its anticipation for what happens on the next page - simple repetitive text can be sung with any melody and draws everyone to participate by either repeating or singing each word.
October 11, 2011
Super-cute drawings, super-boring repeating text.
This would work best for a child at the first stages of learning to read, as it not only uses the same few words over and over but also has visual cues to help guess the non-repeated words.
This would work best for a child at the first stages of learning to read, as it not only uses the same few words over and over but also has visual cues to help guess the non-repeated words.
January 23, 2014
This is a great book to use if you want to infuse some rhythm into your storytime. i have the kids and parents pat their legs to create the beat while I sing the story to them. It's nice because you have the beat along with the good story to keep the storytime group entertained and focused.
March 10, 2008
Will be a hit in music and movement... a girl and her monkey move and give hints as to what animal they "see." Picture book charades. Pair with yoga, too?
July 24, 2008
A good book for begenning readers. As usual, the illustrations are fabulous.
December 28, 2013
The illustrations were cute, but the story was kind of boring.
November 1, 2018
Lovely illustations. Monkey is a toy but the animals he meets with his owner are real. I can imagine small children getting very excited about this one, good to introduce animals to children.
July 9, 2019
A little girl and her toy monkey go through several transformations as they imitate different animals. They keep the reader guessing what's next.
December 3, 2021
Animated illustrations, use of repetition & pace, good for practicing prediciton skills (use of ellipsis throughout the book), good for early counting, learning about animals from around the world and what they look like, children can easily join in.
October 19, 2020
I enjoyed the repetitive nature of this book as it would make it accessible for younger readers. Young readers may also learn new animals from reading this book.
April 13, 2022
Simple text and very cute pictures.
September 21, 2010
This was an adorable little story about a little girl and her stuffed monkey. The two are partners in crime throughout the book, acting out different animals and keeping readers guessing what is to come next. Every couple of pages the girl and her monkey are immitating a specific type of animal and the text says, "Monkey and me, monkey and me, monkey and me, we went to see, we went to see some..." After the readers sees the immitations and reads the lines, she may be able to guess what animal is about to show up next. I liked the end where the author says the little girl and the monkey get some sleep. It's so cute because it is just how a child would be in real life, I think. Usually, when a child has a long day, she will end up falling fast asleep, even in the most random setting, in this case it is at the kitchen table with a spoon in her hand. It's funny because I can remember days like that when I was a child! I would get done with a long, eventful day and then pass out in the car in the stranges positions. I think this book is a lot like the book, Is Your Mama a Llama, in a different sort of way. In Monkey and Me, there is not a lot of repetitive sounds, but there is a lot of guessing what is to come on the next page. In Is Your Mama a Llama, there is more rhyme but there is also a lot of guessing what is on the next page, which increases the childrens' awareness of the story. I really liked this book. It gives teachers a reason to take their children to take them to the zoo. Also, I think it's a good instrument for kids to use to guess what is to come next.
May 10, 2018
Literature Requirement: Predictable
Number of pages: 32
Grade level: P-1
Age level: 2-6
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2007 Emily Gravett
Book Format: Hardcover/picture book
A little girl go to see different animals. In order to transition the reader to the next part the author uses the phrase "Monkey and me, monkey and me, monkey and me, we went to see some. . ." The illustrations depict the little girl dressed in a bright red and white outfit dragging along her stuffed monkey as they go to see all of the different animals. Every time an animal is introduced the name of it is shown in large, bold, black, capital letters and then there is a picture of said animals. In the end they go to see.... Well you'll just have to read to find out!
Repetition in a book is beneficial for young readers. However, the repetition in this book is almost too much. The majority of the book is "monkey and me, monkey and me, monkey and me, we went to see some. . ." I did like the illustrations and thought the animals shown, as well as the little girl, were adorable. I think that many little kids can relate to having a favorite stuffed animal and imagining themselves going on adventures with it. I don't think I would recommend this book though. While some younger children may like it, I think most would find it boring. Also, there seems to be no real point to the story at all.
Number of pages: 32
Grade level: P-1
Age level: 2-6
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2007 Emily Gravett
Book Format: Hardcover/picture book
A little girl go to see different animals. In order to transition the reader to the next part the author uses the phrase "Monkey and me, monkey and me, monkey and me, we went to see some. . ." The illustrations depict the little girl dressed in a bright red and white outfit dragging along her stuffed monkey as they go to see all of the different animals. Every time an animal is introduced the name of it is shown in large, bold, black, capital letters and then there is a picture of said animals. In the end they go to see.... Well you'll just have to read to find out!
Repetition in a book is beneficial for young readers. However, the repetition in this book is almost too much. The majority of the book is "monkey and me, monkey and me, monkey and me, we went to see some. . ." I did like the illustrations and thought the animals shown, as well as the little girl, were adorable. I think that many little kids can relate to having a favorite stuffed animal and imagining themselves going on adventures with it. I don't think I would recommend this book though. While some younger children may like it, I think most would find it boring. Also, there seems to be no real point to the story at all.
September 22, 2010
Monkey and Me was a touching story about a little girl and her beloved stuffed monkey. Throughout this book, the two characters explore different animals by acting them out while always keeping the readers excited for what is next. For example, the little girl will say "Monkey and me, Monkey and me, Monkey and me we want to see, we want to see some..." and the animal they want to see is discovered in a fun and colorful way when the reader turns the page. I would reconmend this book to small children in the more emergent stages of reading because it offers many characteristics which are important for this stage (such as rhyme and rhythm). My favorite part of the story is when the girl and her monkey discover the kangaroo and she puts Monkey in her shirt as if she had a pouch, too. I think that this really illustrates how much children actually know about things we wouldnt expect them to know about.
I believe children could easily relate to this book because animals are universal-no matter where we live, we see some sort of an animal at some time or another.
I believe children could easily relate to this book because animals are universal-no matter where we live, we see some sort of an animal at some time or another.
August 23, 2017
Emily Gravett has several good early Spanish picture books on the shelves today. This title, Mi mono y yo, is especially good for young readers/listeners.
The repetitive and predictable text provide ample opportunity for participation. If using this as a lap story, even the youngest of readers can learn directionality by watching the grown-up track the text from left to right, top to bottom. In two cases, the text seems to hop like the kangaroos and swing like the monkeys with whom they share the pages. Such Fun! Through the use of ellipses, as the little girl's energy wanes, so does the visual representation of the text.
The text and illustrations go hand in hand. After a couple of readings, children will surely anticipate the next page with little to no prompting. The main character also mimics the movement of the animal she is about reveal. This affords an opportunity to use different verbs to describe movement and allow the children to predict what animal will follow.
Curriculum Connections: animals, movements, verbs, predicting, inferring
Audience: PK-1
The repetitive and predictable text provide ample opportunity for participation. If using this as a lap story, even the youngest of readers can learn directionality by watching the grown-up track the text from left to right, top to bottom. In two cases, the text seems to hop like the kangaroos and swing like the monkeys with whom they share the pages. Such Fun! Through the use of ellipses, as the little girl's energy wanes, so does the visual representation of the text.
The text and illustrations go hand in hand. After a couple of readings, children will surely anticipate the next page with little to no prompting. The main character also mimics the movement of the animal she is about reveal. This affords an opportunity to use different verbs to describe movement and allow the children to predict what animal will follow.
Curriculum Connections: animals, movements, verbs, predicting, inferring
Audience: PK-1
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September 17, 2016Plot Summary:
This story starts of with a little girl and her monkey. It continues with the two going through adventures to see a number of different animals such as Penguins, Kangaroos, Bats, Elephants , and Monkeys. After the numerous adventures, it ends with the two of them asleep.
Literary Merit: Style
The way that Emily Gravett organizes the text throughout the story truly makes a difference. She aligns the sentences when talking about the monkey and the girl. It makes it easier for beginner reader's, because it has a lot of repetition. The design truly draws the reader into reading the next page.
Reader Response:
This story brings me back to my childhood days. It reminds me of how much I loved my stuffed teddy bear. I used to take that thing everywhere with me. I would create an activity that would have my students think about their favorite stuffed animal. I also would ask them about certain adventures they had went on.
This story starts of with a little girl and her monkey. It continues with the two going through adventures to see a number of different animals such as Penguins, Kangaroos, Bats, Elephants , and Monkeys. After the numerous adventures, it ends with the two of them asleep.
Literary Merit: Style
The way that Emily Gravett organizes the text throughout the story truly makes a difference. She aligns the sentences when talking about the monkey and the girl. It makes it easier for beginner reader's, because it has a lot of repetition. The design truly draws the reader into reading the next page.
Reader Response:
This story brings me back to my childhood days. It reminds me of how much I loved my stuffed teddy bear. I used to take that thing everywhere with me. I would create an activity that would have my students think about their favorite stuffed animal. I also would ask them about certain adventures they had went on.
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