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Good Crooks #1
Missing Monkey!
When their parents steal a monkey from the zoo to help them pick pockets, our heroes rush into action and return the wily animal using disguises, inventions, and old-fashioned shoe leather. They also learn what a monkey can do in 11 minutes: 1) Stick his fingers in your right nostril. 2) Lick your eyebrows, pick his teeth, and then wipe his finger on your shirt. Giggles and guffaws will be the result of anyone reading Book One of Good Crooks.
Author Mary Amato is a star of state master and children's choice lists and returns to the age category of her popular Riot Brothers chapter book series with this funny, silly new series.
-- "Journal"
Author Mary Amato is a star of state master and children's choice lists and returns to the age category of her popular Riot Brothers chapter book series with this funny, silly new series.
-- "Journal"
128 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2014
14 people are currently reading
389 people want to read
About the author
Mary Amato
31 books222 followersI write fiction for young adults and children and enjoy connecting with my readers. Adults (ages 18 and up) who are interested in writing, please check out my Meditative Art/Writing Workouts, a donation-based twice monthly online group.
https://www.maryamato.com/meditative-...
https://www.maryamato.com/meditative-...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
August 28, 2017
A cute little story about doing what's right instead of what's not--even if you were raised to believe differently. It's clear that there are some secrets still to be revealed about the Crook family in this series, but as it is well below the interest level of my middle grade students, I probably will not continue reading. A great chapter book for elementary students.
Read
January 17, 2025A fun kids book with lots of elephant 💩
July 5, 2017
Review for: Missing Monkey, Dog Gone, and Sniff a Skunk. I am combining them as they feature mostly the same elements.
A family full of crooks, or are there some good apples in the mix? Add to that some monkey business, a famous dog who can play dead like the best, and a skunk with a stinky problem.
So last night I couldn't sleep so I decided to check out some books I wanted to read, and this series was one of them. Due to me not being able to see the number on the cover + not really in the mood to get out of bed and grab my phone from the other room/or start my PC, I decided to just read it randomly. So book 1 > 2. Book 2 > 3. Book 3 > 1.
I can say that it wasn't that much of a problem to read the books out of order. You could still easily understand the story. Sure the whole "Are our parents really our parents?" thing was a bit confusing as in book 1 it wasn't mentioned, book 2 had a bit about it, and book 3 was about it fully.
Our MC's are the twins Billy and Jillian. Well, OK, the official MC is Billy, but Jillian is around so much I will see her as the MC as well. Billy is the not so smart twin, though he is an animal whisperer (it seems) + he has some awesome ideas. Jillian is the smart one, she invents things left and right and she is the one who generally makes the plans. I really liked both of them, they made a good team. I loved that they were eager to do good deeds and went to great lengths to do them. Even if it meant disguising themselves and fending off their no-good parents.
I loved how they kept foiling their parents plans, or making things right again. Like with the cake, or the zoo, or the dog.
Sure, they had to at times do stuff they didn't like, so that their parents wouldn't be too suspicious. Or they had to make up a lie when they were almost caught with doing a good deed.
Each book features an animal. The first book is about a monkey named Razzle (who was quite annoying and I didn't like him at all). The next book is about Poochie (a famous dog whose only good feature was playing dead. As Billy also said: "I know what to get this dog for her birthday," I told Jillian.
"What?" Jillian asked.
"A gravestone," I said. "Playing dead is the only thing she likes to do."). And the last book is about a skunk (who lost her family and is being bullied by squirrels. Our duo is trying to teach her to be more of a skunk).
I am quite curious what the next animal will be, or if the author will just throw out the theme entirely. :P
As I said at the beginning, this book also features the theme of: Are these our parents? And we see them search for answers. I am quite curious to see how this theme will end, I am guessing in the next book we will find out more, or maybe even see those real parents.
The book is also full of hilarious illustrations that made reading it even more fun.
All in all, I quite enjoyed this series and I will be waiting for the next book!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
A family full of crooks, or are there some good apples in the mix? Add to that some monkey business, a famous dog who can play dead like the best, and a skunk with a stinky problem.
So last night I couldn't sleep so I decided to check out some books I wanted to read, and this series was one of them. Due to me not being able to see the number on the cover + not really in the mood to get out of bed and grab my phone from the other room/or start my PC, I decided to just read it randomly. So book 1 > 2. Book 2 > 3. Book 3 > 1.
I can say that it wasn't that much of a problem to read the books out of order. You could still easily understand the story. Sure the whole "Are our parents really our parents?" thing was a bit confusing as in book 1 it wasn't mentioned, book 2 had a bit about it, and book 3 was about it fully.
Our MC's are the twins Billy and Jillian. Well, OK, the official MC is Billy, but Jillian is around so much I will see her as the MC as well. Billy is the not so smart twin, though he is an animal whisperer (it seems) + he has some awesome ideas. Jillian is the smart one, she invents things left and right and she is the one who generally makes the plans. I really liked both of them, they made a good team. I loved that they were eager to do good deeds and went to great lengths to do them. Even if it meant disguising themselves and fending off their no-good parents.
I loved how they kept foiling their parents plans, or making things right again. Like with the cake, or the zoo, or the dog.
Sure, they had to at times do stuff they didn't like, so that their parents wouldn't be too suspicious. Or they had to make up a lie when they were almost caught with doing a good deed.
Each book features an animal. The first book is about a monkey named Razzle (who was quite annoying and I didn't like him at all). The next book is about Poochie (a famous dog whose only good feature was playing dead. As Billy also said: "I know what to get this dog for her birthday," I told Jillian.
"What?" Jillian asked.
"A gravestone," I said. "Playing dead is the only thing she likes to do."). And the last book is about a skunk (who lost her family and is being bullied by squirrels. Our duo is trying to teach her to be more of a skunk).
I am quite curious what the next animal will be, or if the author will just throw out the theme entirely. :P
As I said at the beginning, this book also features the theme of: Are these our parents? And we see them search for answers. I am quite curious to see how this theme will end, I am guessing in the next book we will find out more, or maybe even see those real parents.
The book is also full of hilarious illustrations that made reading it even more fun.
All in all, I quite enjoyed this series and I will be waiting for the next book!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
March 24, 2014
This was a fun read aloud with my kids . . . especially when we used full volume to belt out "The Elephant Parade Song" (to the tune of "My Darling Clementine") toward the end!
January 28, 2022
Twins Billy and Jillian are raised to be good crooks, but instead want to be good people. They have to sneak around to do this, and that is part of the fun of this book. When they go to a zoo to help clean it up, their parents follow them there and think that the twins are there to steal a monkey, since they believe, as well all know, monkey see, monkey do. Cue the fun hijinks as our heroes try to figure out what to do about this.
I thought this was a really fun book that will appeal to elementary school students and will keep them interested in the story. I think they will like the illustrations as much as the story.
5/5 stars.
I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.
I thought this was a really fun book that will appeal to elementary school students and will keep them interested in the story. I think they will like the illustrations as much as the story.
5/5 stars.
I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 20, 2017
This book name is good crooks by ward jenkins.
This book is talking about , a famliy all are crooks , but the baby don’t want to be a crooks any more .
In the beginning a family go to rob a bank , after that father us this is a practice.
In the middle the i don’ want to be a crook any more , i go to the zoo to do some good thing.
In the end , i is a good guy , don’t do the bad thing any more i play with animal and do many good thing.
This book is talking about , a famliy all are crooks , but the baby don’t want to be a crooks any more .
In the beginning a family go to rob a bank , after that father us this is a practice.
In the middle the i don’ want to be a crook any more , i go to the zoo to do some good thing.
In the end , i is a good guy , don’t do the bad thing any more i play with animal and do many good thing.
October 26, 2019
Twins Billy and Jillian want do good deeds which is difficult when you come from a family of crooks. When their parents kidnap a monkey from a zoo, Billy and Jillian must find a way to return the mischievous creature. However, it is not as easy as it seems when you don’t want your parents catching you doing a good deed.
Recommended for grades 2nd -4th. Lexile Level: 510
Reviewed by Christine Hwang, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
Recommended for grades 2nd -4th. Lexile Level: 510
Reviewed by Christine Hwang, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
March 3, 2020
Billy and Jillian Crook are crooks! Or at least their parents are...The twins are having a change of heart and want to do something good instead of helping their parents steal. They have to hide these good deeds from their parents though, and chaos ensues.
Cute series. Suspension of disbelief required of course, but still fun. I think kids will like the antics and the ridiculous premise. A little bit harder and longer but short chapters and pictures.
Cute series. Suspension of disbelief required of course, but still fun. I think kids will like the antics and the ridiculous premise. A little bit harder and longer but short chapters and pictures.
March 13, 2018
LOWER-LEVEL FICTION BOOK
I love that this book is a series! The children can continue reading about this duo always getting themselves into some sort of crazy shenanigans. I think this book has a perfect balance of appropriate suspense and comedy. The book hooks the readers in a fun way. I would actually like to purchase some of these books to have in my collection.
I love that this book is a series! The children can continue reading about this duo always getting themselves into some sort of crazy shenanigans. I think this book has a perfect balance of appropriate suspense and comedy. The book hooks the readers in a fun way. I would actually like to purchase some of these books to have in my collection.
April 14, 2018
Entertaining read aloud!
April 30, 2018
Every kid I read this with loves it! Parents as crooks and their kids as the moral compass, turns their world upside down and they love it! The poop jokes help too ;)
July 22, 2019
This book reminds me of Roald Dahl's books where the parents are terrible and the children are the heroes of the story. The story plot is similar to The Infamous Ratsos, but with human characters.
February 10, 2020
My 3rd graders says, “4stars!”
January 8, 2021
Silly and cute story for K-2.
December 19, 2016
Billy and his sister Jillian are the children of Ron and Tanya Crook, professional bank robbers who have raised their children to pick locks, tell lies, and steal money. Billy and Jillian have always gone along with their parents’ crimes, but lately they’ve begun to feel guilty. One afternoon, they go to the zoo to volunteer, hoping to perform some good deeds, but when their parents find them there, they think the kids are trying to steal a monkey to help them with their robberies. Before Billy and Jillian can stop them, their parents have taken a monkey home with them! Now the only way to make things right is for Billy and his sister to sneak the monkey out of the house and return him to the zoo without being caught.
Billy, who narrates Missing Monkey! is a good-hearted, funny, and interesting character. His tone is very chatty and occasionally sarcastic, and he describes even the most frustrating events of the story with a sense of humor. Repeated references to his love for bacon make the reader feel like he or she is in on an inside joke, and the piggyback song based on Clementine that he uses to round up the zoo’s elephants is funny enough that kids will be likely to sing it aloud when they reach that point in the book.
The story is very well-plotted. Each short chapter serves to advance the story just a bit more, and the events happen quickly, with little lag time in between action sequences. Readers never have time to lose interest because each chapter builds on the one before it, creating a pleasant sense of urgency that will make kids want to keep reading to find out how things turn out. The writing in general is very strong. Amato really captures the voice of an early elementary school boy, including some of the gross humor such a boy might enjoy, and she also plays with words a little bit, creating characters such as Saya Lott the news reporter and Sally Mander the zoo director. The highlight of the book for me is the list Billy makes of things a monkey will do in eleven minutes. The list format makes the information fun to read, and the content of the list perfectly matches the seven-year-old sense of humor.
Ward Jenkins’s illustrations are another highlight of this book. They are similar in style to artwork by Jim Paillot (My Weird School, Secrets of a Lab Rat) and they provide the visual cues chapter book readers need to help them decode new words and have a sense of context. The first illustration in the book, showing mug shots for all four members of the family, manages to set the tone for the whole story without any words, and the rest of the artwork, though not final in the ARC edition, looks like it will be just as spot on.
Missing Monkey! takes a fresh approach to the chapter book format. It can appeal easily to boys or girls and will be likely to engage animal lovers and adventure-seekers equally. The backwards family dynamics, the silly tone, and the action-filled plot will easily draw in the target audience (ages 5-8) and get them laughing as they read. Recommend the Good Crooks series to readers who enjoy Dan Gutman, Dav Pilkey, Jon Scieszka, and David Adler.
Billy, who narrates Missing Monkey! is a good-hearted, funny, and interesting character. His tone is very chatty and occasionally sarcastic, and he describes even the most frustrating events of the story with a sense of humor. Repeated references to his love for bacon make the reader feel like he or she is in on an inside joke, and the piggyback song based on Clementine that he uses to round up the zoo’s elephants is funny enough that kids will be likely to sing it aloud when they reach that point in the book.
The story is very well-plotted. Each short chapter serves to advance the story just a bit more, and the events happen quickly, with little lag time in between action sequences. Readers never have time to lose interest because each chapter builds on the one before it, creating a pleasant sense of urgency that will make kids want to keep reading to find out how things turn out. The writing in general is very strong. Amato really captures the voice of an early elementary school boy, including some of the gross humor such a boy might enjoy, and she also plays with words a little bit, creating characters such as Saya Lott the news reporter and Sally Mander the zoo director. The highlight of the book for me is the list Billy makes of things a monkey will do in eleven minutes. The list format makes the information fun to read, and the content of the list perfectly matches the seven-year-old sense of humor.
Ward Jenkins’s illustrations are another highlight of this book. They are similar in style to artwork by Jim Paillot (My Weird School, Secrets of a Lab Rat) and they provide the visual cues chapter book readers need to help them decode new words and have a sense of context. The first illustration in the book, showing mug shots for all four members of the family, manages to set the tone for the whole story without any words, and the rest of the artwork, though not final in the ARC edition, looks like it will be just as spot on.
Missing Monkey! takes a fresh approach to the chapter book format. It can appeal easily to boys or girls and will be likely to engage animal lovers and adventure-seekers equally. The backwards family dynamics, the silly tone, and the action-filled plot will easily draw in the target audience (ages 5-8) and get them laughing as they read. Recommend the Good Crooks series to readers who enjoy Dan Gutman, Dav Pilkey, Jon Scieszka, and David Adler.
January 27, 2020
This...was an interesting book. Catchy premise, although a little odd. I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about criminal parents intent on leading their children into a life of crime.
It's far-fetched and I didn't find it very humorous but I could see how younger readers would laugh at the monkey and the mishaps that follow his abduction.
I am relieved that Billy and Jillian do not want a life of crime and seek to thwart their parents attempts at robbery.
I recieved an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley. This is my honest review.
It's far-fetched and I didn't find it very humorous but I could see how younger readers would laugh at the monkey and the mishaps that follow his abduction.
I am relieved that Billy and Jillian do not want a life of crime and seek to thwart their parents attempts at robbery.
I recieved an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley. This is my honest review.
February 20, 2014
A funny, silly new series perfect for fans of Dav Pilkey. Mary Amato is a star of state master and children's choice lists and returns to the age category of her popular Riot Brothers chapter book series with this new venture.
When their parents steal a monkey from the zoo to help them pick pockets, our heroes rush into action and return the wily animal using disguises, inventions, and old-fashioned shoe leather. They also learn what a monkey can do in 11 minutes: 1) Stick his fingers in your right nostril. 2) Lick your eyebrows, pick his teeth, and then wipe his finger on your shirt.
Giggles and guffaws will be the result of anyone reading Book One of Good Crooks.
Moon Shine Art's Review <\b>
What a fun concept. The Crook children (twin boy and girl) and their misadventures in trying to be crooks as mom and dad want while their hearts are pulling them to do good.
I love the story and the cover, but regret that I did not get to see the finished artwork in my review copy. I received a free copy d this book in order to give an honest review. This book is so hilarious and unforgettable. The children have to dress as old women as they go out (always in disguise). Their live style in itself is so funny, but kidnapping the "cute" monkey was a lot more than they bargained for. There are so many mishaps and oopsies there is no way to put this book down.
I read the book first without my son and even though I am grown, I laughed so hard my sides hurt. The monkey and the children's personalities were so set for side splitting disaster, perfect combo for fun.
It is good too that all ends with many good deeds accomplished even though the Crook parents were trying to train them to be crooks.
When their parents steal a monkey from the zoo to help them pick pockets, our heroes rush into action and return the wily animal using disguises, inventions, and old-fashioned shoe leather. They also learn what a monkey can do in 11 minutes: 1) Stick his fingers in your right nostril. 2) Lick your eyebrows, pick his teeth, and then wipe his finger on your shirt.
Giggles and guffaws will be the result of anyone reading Book One of Good Crooks.
Moon Shine Art's Review <\b>
What a fun concept. The Crook children (twin boy and girl) and their misadventures in trying to be crooks as mom and dad want while their hearts are pulling them to do good.
I love the story and the cover, but regret that I did not get to see the finished artwork in my review copy. I received a free copy d this book in order to give an honest review. This book is so hilarious and unforgettable. The children have to dress as old women as they go out (always in disguise). Their live style in itself is so funny, but kidnapping the "cute" monkey was a lot more than they bargained for. There are so many mishaps and oopsies there is no way to put this book down.
I read the book first without my son and even though I am grown, I laughed so hard my sides hurt. The monkey and the children's personalities were so set for side splitting disaster, perfect combo for fun.
It is good too that all ends with many good deeds accomplished even though the Crook parents were trying to train them to be crooks.
Want to read
February 20, 2017What are Billy and Jillian supposed to do when their parents steal a monkey from the zoo? Jump into action, of course!
May 31, 2014
Good Crooks Book One: Missing Monkey! is the first book in the Good Crooks series written by Mary Amato and illustrated by Ward Jenkins. This early chapter book is about Billy and Jillian Crook. These twins are tired of having to wear disguises every time they leave the house and helping their parents lead a life of crime. These feisty youngsters want to do some good deeds, but have to be even sneakier while doing good than while breaking the law. When their parents steal a monkey to help them steal, the twins rush into action. Not only do they learn just how much a monkey can do in eleven minutes, they also learn what it feels like to do good.
Missing Monkey! is a fun and fast paced story that will capture the attention quickly. Billy and Jillian are well done characters, each with a very distinct personality. I loved some of Billy's asides and lists that more often than not made me laugh. The interaction between the tech genius Jillian, impulsive Billy, and their parents are highly entertaining. Adding and intelligent monkey to the mix just makes everything that much more entertaining. I think the strive to do a good deed in secret, and the humor ingrained in the entire book, make for a combination that will entertain most readers.
I recommend Missing Monkey for readers just making the transition to chapter books, and for those that like the silly humor so often involved in a story involving hum,ans and monkeys. The story is a fun read, with humor and a good lesson about not having to be what others expect you to be firmly woven into the book. I look forward to reading the second book in the series, Dog Gone!, which is waiting for my attention on my Kindle.
Missing Monkey! is a fun and fast paced story that will capture the attention quickly. Billy and Jillian are well done characters, each with a very distinct personality. I loved some of Billy's asides and lists that more often than not made me laugh. The interaction between the tech genius Jillian, impulsive Billy, and their parents are highly entertaining. Adding and intelligent monkey to the mix just makes everything that much more entertaining. I think the strive to do a good deed in secret, and the humor ingrained in the entire book, make for a combination that will entertain most readers.
I recommend Missing Monkey for readers just making the transition to chapter books, and for those that like the silly humor so often involved in a story involving hum,ans and monkeys. The story is a fun read, with humor and a good lesson about not having to be what others expect you to be firmly woven into the book. I look forward to reading the second book in the series, Dog Gone!, which is waiting for my attention on my Kindle.
February 28, 2014
Good Crooks is a fun and silly book for young readers.
Billy and Jillian are Crooks, I mean that is there last name. Though there parents really are crooks and they want Billy and Jillian to fall in their footsteps. They are teaching them how to pick locks, etc. The thing is, is Billy doesn't really want to be a crook and then he finds out that his twin sister doesn't either.
Billy seen an ad for helping out at the zoo and he wants to do this good deed. Before you know it his sister has followed him and that is when he finds out about her liking to do good deeds. The bad thing is there parents followed them and thinks that they had plans to still a monkey, so their parents do it.
Once the monkey comes into play the books is filled with all sorts of funny antics and then when they try and put the monkey back it gets even funnier. It teaches children that doing good deeds are better than being bad and it does this in a fun and silly way.
Since I got an eArc the illustrations were just sketches, but I can tell from those sketches that they are going to be real cute when finished. Ward Jenkins did a really good job.
I would recommend this for anyone with little kids who like to read.
Billy and Jillian are Crooks, I mean that is there last name. Though there parents really are crooks and they want Billy and Jillian to fall in their footsteps. They are teaching them how to pick locks, etc. The thing is, is Billy doesn't really want to be a crook and then he finds out that his twin sister doesn't either.
Billy seen an ad for helping out at the zoo and he wants to do this good deed. Before you know it his sister has followed him and that is when he finds out about her liking to do good deeds. The bad thing is there parents followed them and thinks that they had plans to still a monkey, so their parents do it.
Once the monkey comes into play the books is filled with all sorts of funny antics and then when they try and put the monkey back it gets even funnier. It teaches children that doing good deeds are better than being bad and it does this in a fun and silly way.
Since I got an eArc the illustrations were just sketches, but I can tell from those sketches that they are going to be real cute when finished. Ward Jenkins did a really good job.
I would recommend this for anyone with little kids who like to read.
March 1, 2015
Title- Missing Monkey
Author- Mary Amato
Illustrator- Ward Jenkins
Series-Good Crooks Book 1
Publisher-Egmont
ISBN-9781606843963
Copyright date-2014
Price-$14.99
Hardback
Pages-128
Type of Book – Fiction
Grade Range –2, 3, 4
Use- Recreation
Type Size- Average
Format –Chapter
Illustration Type- Black & White
Illustration Rating- Good
Reference Aids- Table of Contents
Genres- Humor
Literary Merit-Good
Characterization-Good
Recommended
Summary-The twins, Jillian and Billy, are taught by their parents to commit crimes. The twins want a normal life. Their parents have them steal a monkey from the zoo to pick pocket for the family. The children dress up in disguises. Billy dresses up as an old lady named Mrs. Whiffbacon and Jillian dresses up as an old lady named Mrs. Sippy. The kids feel bad about their life of crime and decide to stop being criminals. Their adventure is taking the monkey back to the zoo and the children end up helping to clean up the zoo.
Evaluation-This is a good book for grade school level boys. The humor is for this age group. It is an easy read and a good book to read to instill the love of reading. The kids will want to read all the books in the series.
Author- Mary Amato
Illustrator- Ward Jenkins
Series-Good Crooks Book 1
Publisher-Egmont
ISBN-9781606843963
Copyright date-2014
Price-$14.99
Hardback
Pages-128
Type of Book – Fiction
Grade Range –2, 3, 4
Use- Recreation
Type Size- Average
Format –Chapter
Illustration Type- Black & White
Illustration Rating- Good
Reference Aids- Table of Contents
Genres- Humor
Literary Merit-Good
Characterization-Good
Recommended
Summary-The twins, Jillian and Billy, are taught by their parents to commit crimes. The twins want a normal life. Their parents have them steal a monkey from the zoo to pick pocket for the family. The children dress up in disguises. Billy dresses up as an old lady named Mrs. Whiffbacon and Jillian dresses up as an old lady named Mrs. Sippy. The kids feel bad about their life of crime and decide to stop being criminals. Their adventure is taking the monkey back to the zoo and the children end up helping to clean up the zoo.
Evaluation-This is a good book for grade school level boys. The humor is for this age group. It is an easy read and a good book to read to instill the love of reading. The kids will want to read all the books in the series.
April 29, 2015
Amato, Mary Good Crooks (Two Funny Books about Two Good Crooks) Missing Monkey:Book One and Dog Gone!: Book Two. Illustrated by Ward Jenkins. 244 pgs. EgmontUSA, 2014.
This one book contains two stories in the Good Crooks series. All you have to do is flip the book to change from Missing Monkey to Dog Gone! Billy and his twin sister, Jillian, come from a family of crooks. Their parents are very successful in what they do, but Billy isn’t sure he wants to be a crook! In Missing Monkey, Billy goes to help clean up at the zoo in an old woman disguise. He meets someone unexpected and that’s when disaster strikes!
In book two, Dog Gone! Billy and his sister find a flier for a dog shelter that needs money. They decide to have a bake sale. They make cupcakes in the morning and later go to the park to sell the cupcake. When they have sold the cupcakes and collected the money they head home. On their way home, they meet some muggers. This will lead all kinds of issues.
These two books are great for all ages. I really enjoyed all of the illustrations. It was fun to have two books bound into one. The way the author described things was wonderful.
EL (K-3). ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: JL-age 11.
This one book contains two stories in the Good Crooks series. All you have to do is flip the book to change from Missing Monkey to Dog Gone! Billy and his twin sister, Jillian, come from a family of crooks. Their parents are very successful in what they do, but Billy isn’t sure he wants to be a crook! In Missing Monkey, Billy goes to help clean up at the zoo in an old woman disguise. He meets someone unexpected and that’s when disaster strikes!
In book two, Dog Gone! Billy and his sister find a flier for a dog shelter that needs money. They decide to have a bake sale. They make cupcakes in the morning and later go to the park to sell the cupcake. When they have sold the cupcakes and collected the money they head home. On their way home, they meet some muggers. This will lead all kinds of issues.
These two books are great for all ages. I really enjoyed all of the illustrations. It was fun to have two books bound into one. The way the author described things was wonderful.
EL (K-3). ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: JL-age 11.
August 30, 2014
Most kids try to model their behavior after that of their parents, and that is what most parents want. Yet twins Billy and Jillian have a bit of a problem with their parents behavior. They want to fully live up to their last name, Crook. Mom and Dad Crook want the young twins to be expert lock-pickers and pickpockets. The kids want nothing more than to do a good deed for once. As they try to secretly do a community service project at the local zoo their parents discover them and somehow they end up stealing a monkey and taking it home with them. The parents are convinced he can be part of their gang, I mean family. So now they have the chance to do a really good deed by returning the monkey. And how do they convince their parents that the crooked life of a Crook is not for them?
This ridiculous intermediate chapter book is great fun for boys and girls alike. The monkey's antics alone will have them laughing out loud. Kids will get a kick out of reading about parents that want their kids to be bad as it is most likely the opposite of how they are being raised.
This ridiculous intermediate chapter book is great fun for boys and girls alike. The monkey's antics alone will have them laughing out loud. Kids will get a kick out of reading about parents that want their kids to be bad as it is most likely the opposite of how they are being raised.
July 6, 2017
"You will always succeed if you do a good deed."
Billy and Jillian are the twin kids of notorious criminals, Ron and Tanya Crook. But they don't want to join their parents in their illegal activities. It's hard to tell their folks face to face, so they work behind the scenes to right the wrongs perpetrated by their parents. "Was I really going to pass up the chance to steal? ... Was I out of my mind?" The plans aren't always successful, but they continue to try to do the right thing.
In this first book, Billy sees a sign that makes "the world's biggest case of goose bumps prickle every inch of his spine": Clean up at the Zoo Day. Billy, dressed in his old lady disguise Mrs. Whiffbacon, goes to help at the zoo. And who does he run into? Jillian ... doing the same thing. It is then they realize that they both feel the same about their life of crime. But Mom and Dad show up as well and decide to kidnap a Monkey.
Some good examples of figurative language for younger readers. Silly humor will make this attractive to readers in 3rd and 4th grade, especially.
Billy and Jillian are the twin kids of notorious criminals, Ron and Tanya Crook. But they don't want to join their parents in their illegal activities. It's hard to tell their folks face to face, so they work behind the scenes to right the wrongs perpetrated by their parents. "Was I really going to pass up the chance to steal? ... Was I out of my mind?" The plans aren't always successful, but they continue to try to do the right thing.
In this first book, Billy sees a sign that makes "the world's biggest case of goose bumps prickle every inch of his spine": Clean up at the Zoo Day. Billy, dressed in his old lady disguise Mrs. Whiffbacon, goes to help at the zoo. And who does he run into? Jillian ... doing the same thing. It is then they realize that they both feel the same about their life of crime. But Mom and Dad show up as well and decide to kidnap a Monkey.
Some good examples of figurative language for younger readers. Silly humor will make this attractive to readers in 3rd and 4th grade, especially.
January 29, 2014
Billy and Jillian Crook are part of a family of crooks, but one day they both realize they have the same idea; they don't want to be crooks anymore. Being a crook isn't normal and they want to do something nice. However, their nice deed turns into a monkey theft and what are Billy and Jillian to do but set things right.
A nice story about kids that are part of a bad family of crooks but want to be good and when they do good deeds it makes them feel good too. This had a good message to delivery to children and there was a cute story to back it up. Overall this was a very quick read and enjoyable for kids that like adventure and a little mischief.
I received this advanced copy from Egmont USA through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
A nice story about kids that are part of a bad family of crooks but want to be good and when they do good deeds it makes them feel good too. This had a good message to delivery to children and there was a cute story to back it up. Overall this was a very quick read and enjoyable for kids that like adventure and a little mischief.
I received this advanced copy from Egmont USA through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
August 17, 2015
A really fun early chapter book about twins Billy and Jillian Crook. The poor twins want to do good for others, but their parents are unfortunately living up to their last name and want their kids to too. Much of this first book involves Mr. and Mrs. Crook stealing a monkey from the zoo and Billy and Jillian's efforts to return him. Just great! Kind of a madcap feel similar to Captain Underpants or a ridiculously silly movie like Pink Panther. One of my favorite aspects of the book was that Jillian was the gadget-obsessed scientist, going against the typical characterization of the inventor as a boy. I will buy this for my library for sure and look forward to reading more about Billy and Jillian's adventures.
April 6, 2014
This is the first book in a new series, Good Crooks, by Mary Amato. Just as in her Riot Brothers series, she has written a transitional novel that children will enjoy as her sense of humor is right in line with 7-9 year olds. The premise is that twins Billie and Jillian have parents who are crooks and want their children to be just like them, teaching them to pick locks and steal. But the twins want to do good deeds, and sneak around their parents to find opportunities to do good. This story finds the twins helping out a monkey named Razzle at the zoo. At only approx, 120 pages, with large text and black and white illustrations, this is a perfect chapter book for early readers.
Read
December 30, 2020I was recommended this one for a graduated Storytime kid, and I always pre-read before I give books to people. I quite liked this one. I thought the writing was good - chapter books can be a bit dry sometimes, but this one had a ton of personality and was really readable. I thought the premise was a lot of fun, too. It's silly and cute, and I enjoyed that though the narrator is Billy, a boy, his sister Jillian is very important to the story, too. It would be awesome if the book alternated POVs so the next one was told from Jillian's POV. Read the rest on my blog.
September 6, 2016
This book was a light silly read for my primary aged son. With two parents who are crooks trying to raise children who are crooks, how can you not have some action going on. Little do the parents know, their children prefer good deeds over bad. With some off the wall, funny comments throughout and great illustrations, this will be a nice book for younger grades that my students are.
April 21, 2015
Splendidly quick and easy read. The e-book ARC was provided to my by Net Galley but it expired before I got a chance to read it so I had to pick up a paperback edition. It was rather silly however I did enjoy it and am somewhat anxious to read the sequels. There's something funny between the parents and the kids that is only hinted at so of course I have to read more to figure it out.
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