The Turtle and the Monkey

by Paul Galdone, Joanna C. Galdone

Turtle needs Monkey's help in getting the banana tree out of the river, but she's sorry later when greedy Monkey demands more than his share of the fruit.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Paul Galdone (1907 - November 7, 1986) was a children's literature author and illustrator. He was born in Budapest and he emigrated to the United States in 1921. He studied art at the Art Student's League and New York School for Industrial Design. He served for the US Army during world War II.

He illustrated nearly all of Eve Titus' books including the Basil of Baker Street series which was translated to the screen in the animated Disney film, The Great Mouse Detective.

Galdone and Titus were nominated for Caldecott Medals for Anatole (1957) and Anatole and the Cat (1958). The titles were later named Caldecott Honor books in 1971.

He died of a heart attack in Nyack, New York. He was posthumously awarded the 1996 Kerlan Award for his contribution to children's literature. His retellings of classic tales like "The Little Red Hen" or "Three Billy Goats Gruff" have become staples.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those fables that doesn't really seem to convey very useful lessons.It is supposed to be an "outwitting" type story but since the turtle did all the work and ended up with nothing more than she started with she doesn't seem too clever to me. Monkey is a complete asshole but he got the bananas. Maybe the moral should be that once someone has proven to be an idiot or jerk once, don't have more to do with them? But that doesn't seem to be the message emphasized in the text.

Also, and I'm just wondering here, can you actually grown a banana tree from a root after hacking off the top half of the plant? The sites I looked at don't specify that you can't, but they say to plant a sucker (which is from the root, so maybe the root would also work?) but show ones with leaves in the pictures.

Apparently turtles are better gardeners than I am.

[Felicia Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hilarious picture book depicting a battle of wits between two well-known animals. Of course, the one with the righteous mind wins. The illustrations, however, were a bit dated for current times (it was published in 1983). And although there is humor to be found, some bits of violence may be too overt for little ones.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

The turtle and the monkey have a disagreement over a banana tree that the turtle found. The tree is divided, but monkey’s portion doesn’t live and monkey eats all of turtle’s bananas. Turtle gets even and ultimately wins the punishment from monkey that she wants.
Copyright 1983

[Datures · Rating 2 out of 5]

i dont think so

[AnnieM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never read this folktale, but it was a common theme of one person/animal outsmarting another.

[Nomad nimrod · Rating 1 out of 5]

Umm, monkey got his banana while turtle got nothing.

[T Crockett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very, very popular with my 5 & 7 yr old audience. I loved that a 10 year old started off saying "oh I know what's going to happen" and ended up being surprised.

[Saffron Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This rating is for the edition adapted and illustrated by Paul Galdone.