Monkey in the Middle

by Eve Bunting, Lynn Munsinger (Illustrator)

When Hashim and Mohammed, two coconut pickers who were once friends, quarrel over a bicycle, Mohammed's monkey finds a way to make peace.

32 pages, Library Binding

First published May 1, 1984

About the author

Also known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.

Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.

Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.

In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.

Reviews

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monkey in the Middle by Eve Bunting, Illustrator Lynn Munsinger, Hindi language translation by Arvind Gupta- Children’s illustrated Colour Picture Book- the book narrates the story of two friends Hashim and Mohammed resident of village KalapaTajong. They were coconut pickers by profession. At one time, they were friends but later Mohammad got the help of a monkey to climb coconut trees and throw the coconuts down for sale. Hashim purchased a bicycle to help him in carrying coconuts to the market. Thus, Mohammad could get more coconuts with the help of his monkey while Hashim could carry the coconuts to the markets faster. One day, the monkey was ill. Both friends carried him on his bicycle to a veterinary doctor’s clinic. They parked the bicycle outside the clinic. Doctor examined the monkey gave him medicine. When they came out, the bicycle was stolen. On the way back, monkey climbed the lamppost. Children saw him and paid money. The money was given to Hashim as compensation of the cost of his bicycle. Both carried the monkey on the return journey. Now, they were friends. Monkey helped both in throwing the coconuts from the coconut trees. Thus, monkey help both in resuming their friendship. Coloured illustrations help the reader in relating to the story. I have read the Hindi language translation of this book.