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Naughty Little Monkeys
What happens when you leave twenty-six little monkeys home alone? Lots of monkey business, that’s what! The charming chimps in this book, with names and misbehaviors to match each letter of the alphabet, cause all kinds of trouble when Mom and Dad go out. Jim Aylesworth’s rollicking rhyming text and Henry Cole’s irresistibly mischievous monkeys teach thealphabet with unmatched exuberance, from Andy . . . all the way to Zelda!
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
About the author
Jim Aylesworth
43 books34 followersJim Aylesworth was born in Jacksonville, Florida but as an infant moved from the state. He lived in many places during his childhood: Alabama, Indiana, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas... but by the time Aylesworth was 15 his family had settled in Hinsdale, Illinois and that is where he graduated from high school in 1961.
In 1965, he graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a B.A. in English. He returned to Hinsdale and began a career as a stockbroker. By 1970, however, Aylesworth was thinking about what he really wanted to do. After a series of assignments as a substitute teacher, Aylesworth ended up in a primary classroom. He began teaching first grade students in Oak Park, Illinois in 1971 and entered Concordia College in River Forest, Illinois, to earn a graduate degree in elementary education -- a goal he reached in 1978.
But it was his work with children that brought him the most reward. It was Aylesworth's experiences as a teacher that eventually led him to writing children's books.
In 1965, he graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a B.A. in English. He returned to Hinsdale and began a career as a stockbroker. By 1970, however, Aylesworth was thinking about what he really wanted to do. After a series of assignments as a substitute teacher, Aylesworth ended up in a primary classroom. He began teaching first grade students in Oak Park, Illinois in 1971 and entered Concordia College in River Forest, Illinois, to earn a graduate degree in elementary education -- a goal he reached in 1978.
But it was his work with children that brought him the most reward. It was Aylesworth's experiences as a teacher that eventually led him to writing children's books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
November 13, 2019
Text-to-Text Connection
This book reminds me of the story of The five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Both stories are about monkeys being naughty but this story does not end with the monkeys going to bed! It also made me think of all the trouble Curious George gets into in every book or t.v show he appears in. Monkeys are always portrayed as mischievous, playful, and naughty much like how they are in this book.
This book reminds me of the story of The five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Both stories are about monkeys being naughty but this story does not end with the monkeys going to bed! It also made me think of all the trouble Curious George gets into in every book or t.v show he appears in. Monkeys are always portrayed as mischievous, playful, and naughty much like how they are in this book.
March 26, 2012
This book is about 26 naughty little monkeys that are left home alone while their parents go out. Each monkey has a name that begins with a letter of the alphabet and each monkey creates their own trouble. Hanging from the curtains, playing with mommy's things and sliding down the banister are a few examples of the trouble these monkeys make. At the end of the story the parents load up the monkeys and take them to the zoo. Young children love this book and I read it to my class almost daily. I believe that this book has helped teach my two and three year olds the letters of the alphabet.
A creative activity to use to correspond to the story would be pasta letter alphabet stories. They can use the pasta letters to make words for each letter of the alphabet.
A creative activity to use to correspond to the story would be pasta letter alphabet stories. They can use the pasta letters to make words for each letter of the alphabet.
March 1, 2018
Each monkey, from A to Z is doing something wrong. The illustrations are nice and the story is clever, but I'm not a fan of books that give preschoolers ideas of bad choices they can make - especially when [spoiler alert].....
at the end they all get sent to the zoo because they can't be good. I don't want to give my kids the message that if they screw up I'm going to send them away. [spoiler alert]
at the end they all get sent to the zoo because they can't be good. I don't want to give my kids the message that if they screw up I'm going to send them away. [spoiler alert]
November 11, 2023
I enjoyed reading this story (although it can be hard to watch all of the mischief that the monkeys get into—I also don’t love that their parents left them all home alone without a babysitter). I enjoyed the illustrations, and I like that the story works with the letters of the alphabet and that all of the monkeys have alphabetized names on their pj shirts—however, it did really bother me that monkey z didn’t get shown separately and didn’t have a name on his/her shirt.
February 1, 2019
(Picture Book)
This is a perfect book to help teach children the alphabet. It goes through each letter highlighting a word in the text and also associating a name of the monkey with the correct letter of the alphabet. Great illustrations!
This is a perfect book to help teach children the alphabet. It goes through each letter highlighting a word in the text and also associating a name of the monkey with the correct letter of the alphabet. Great illustrations!
October 5, 2022
This is a fun rhyming, read-aloud book about some monkeys that like to have fun. Kids will enjoy the antics. Hilarious illustrations throughout. Kids will enjoy this one. Highly recommended for Grades K-2.
October 12, 2022
ABC book. 26 naughty little monkeys named for each letter in the alphabet causing mischief with something starting with their letter (Ike is dripping Ice Cream, Kelly zooming with kite..) Each with a little rhyming couplet. Bedtime ends up at the zoo.
January 13, 2025
“Thank you for the book, I love it, and a kiss”- (Palmer, age 4)
“It was great, my feelings have been good, and it was lovely”- (Cali, age 4)
“It was like really funny and I liked it”- (Harrison, age 8)
“It was great, my feelings have been good, and it was lovely”- (Cali, age 4)
“It was like really funny and I liked it”- (Harrison, age 8)
September 25, 2017
Carson's new favorite book.
August 5, 2018
Naughty monkeys are naughty when mom and dad are out. What will happen when they get home?
Cute alphabet book-- both what they do and their names each correspond with a letter.
Cute alphabet book-- both what they do and their names each correspond with a letter.
September 28, 2019
"Naughty Little Monkeys" is book is good for teaching the alphabet to young children. In this book the ABC’s are shown on each page highlights a new letter.
September 30, 2020
ABC book. Great illustrations. My Kindergarten class very much enjoyed this book.
August 14, 2022
Giving me some great ideas for how to entertain myself.
December 13, 2022
The alphabet is there but it felt forced.
August 5, 2023
26 naughty little monkeys get up to 26 naughty behaviors at bedtime. Entertaining and fun to identify the word that represents the letter of the alphabets. The illustrations are energetic as well.
October 17, 2024
Fun rhyming book about monkey antics .... and apparently the alphabet.
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October 13, 2015Title: Naughty Little Monkeys
Author: Jim Aylesworth
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Genre: Alphabet Book
Theme(s): Alphabet, Making a Mess, Siblings
Opening line/sentence:
Naughty Little Monkeys
Know a lot of tricks,
But Mom thinks they’re angelic.
All naughty twenty-six.
Brief Book Summary: The twenty-six monkeys’ parents go out, leaving the monkeys home alone. They start trouble and make the house a mess, but before their parents come home, they are back in bed. At the end, all of the monkeys and their parents go to the zoo.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: (Horn Books)
40 pp. Dutton 2003. ISBN 0-525-46940-0
(4) PS Illustrated by Henry Cole. Chaos abounds as twenty-six naughty monkeys stir up trouble in alphabetically named order when their (human) parents go out. The mischief begins with Andy's paper airplanes and continues boisterously through Yates's yo-yos, until the beleaguered parents put the monkeys back into bed to rest for a next-day zoo visit. Zany, rollicking illustrations add to the fun and help to counterbalance the sometimes-awkward rhymes.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: (CLCD)
Marilyn Courtot (Children’s Literature)
Dressed in a ball gown and tuxedo, Mom and Dad are headed out for the evening. The twenty-six little monkeys are all bedded down for the night. Or are they? Twenty-six should be the first clue, since that is the number of letters in the alphabet. Aylesworth has his naughty crew up to a bunch of tricks and they manage to make a pretty good mess of the house. It starts with one named Andy who flies a folded airplane and then moves to Brooke to jumping on her bed. By the time the readers get to Ike, food has been spilled and ice cream is dropping on the dining room table. Pete tops it off with a stack of pancakes with syrup dripping all over the kitchen. When Mom and Dad arrive home, these naughty little monkeys are all in bed, but the house is a wreck. The very next day, they all troop off to the zoo. Young listeners and readers will get a bit of a surprise at the way this romp through the alphabet ends. Henry Cole really adds humor to this rhyming text featuring an unconventional family. Furthermore, he extends the alphabet lesson by printing each monkey’s name on his or her shirt and the dominant word beginning with the appropriate letter is highlighted in the appropriate stanza. The alphabet is recapped in the final picture. 2003, Dutton, $15.99. Ages 3 to 7.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: These reviews explain that the book is good at explaining the alphabet and giving an example of a word that starts with a specific letter of the alphabet. The second review focuses more on the study, while the first reviews touches on the book as a whole. The illustrations by Cole make the book more fun for readers. A review of the alphabet at the end of the book exposes readers to the alphabet in a more formal setting.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The letters of the alphabet are highlighted at the top of the page, and when they are used in a sentence. The book’s plot is easy to follow, and the illustrations are very colorful. This book is good for young children who are learning the alphabet.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book could be used when teachers are teaching their children about the alphabet. Also, the book can be used for introducing the ideas of alliteration into the classroom as well. The younger aged classroom would probably have a lot of fun with this book, but older children can also enjoy going more in depth in the lesson besides just learning the 26 letters of the alphabet.
Author: Jim Aylesworth
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Genre: Alphabet Book
Theme(s): Alphabet, Making a Mess, Siblings
Opening line/sentence:
Naughty Little Monkeys
Know a lot of tricks,
But Mom thinks they’re angelic.
All naughty twenty-six.
Brief Book Summary: The twenty-six monkeys’ parents go out, leaving the monkeys home alone. They start trouble and make the house a mess, but before their parents come home, they are back in bed. At the end, all of the monkeys and their parents go to the zoo.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: (Horn Books)
40 pp. Dutton 2003. ISBN 0-525-46940-0
(4) PS Illustrated by Henry Cole. Chaos abounds as twenty-six naughty monkeys stir up trouble in alphabetically named order when their (human) parents go out. The mischief begins with Andy's paper airplanes and continues boisterously through Yates's yo-yos, until the beleaguered parents put the monkeys back into bed to rest for a next-day zoo visit. Zany, rollicking illustrations add to the fun and help to counterbalance the sometimes-awkward rhymes.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: (CLCD)
Marilyn Courtot (Children’s Literature)
Dressed in a ball gown and tuxedo, Mom and Dad are headed out for the evening. The twenty-six little monkeys are all bedded down for the night. Or are they? Twenty-six should be the first clue, since that is the number of letters in the alphabet. Aylesworth has his naughty crew up to a bunch of tricks and they manage to make a pretty good mess of the house. It starts with one named Andy who flies a folded airplane and then moves to Brooke to jumping on her bed. By the time the readers get to Ike, food has been spilled and ice cream is dropping on the dining room table. Pete tops it off with a stack of pancakes with syrup dripping all over the kitchen. When Mom and Dad arrive home, these naughty little monkeys are all in bed, but the house is a wreck. The very next day, they all troop off to the zoo. Young listeners and readers will get a bit of a surprise at the way this romp through the alphabet ends. Henry Cole really adds humor to this rhyming text featuring an unconventional family. Furthermore, he extends the alphabet lesson by printing each monkey’s name on his or her shirt and the dominant word beginning with the appropriate letter is highlighted in the appropriate stanza. The alphabet is recapped in the final picture. 2003, Dutton, $15.99. Ages 3 to 7.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: These reviews explain that the book is good at explaining the alphabet and giving an example of a word that starts with a specific letter of the alphabet. The second review focuses more on the study, while the first reviews touches on the book as a whole. The illustrations by Cole make the book more fun for readers. A review of the alphabet at the end of the book exposes readers to the alphabet in a more formal setting.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The letters of the alphabet are highlighted at the top of the page, and when they are used in a sentence. The book’s plot is easy to follow, and the illustrations are very colorful. This book is good for young children who are learning the alphabet.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book could be used when teachers are teaching their children about the alphabet. Also, the book can be used for introducing the ideas of alliteration into the classroom as well. The younger aged classroom would probably have a lot of fun with this book, but older children can also enjoy going more in depth in the lesson besides just learning the 26 letters of the alphabet.
November 9, 2009
Listen, here's what's up. If YOU had 26 small children to take care of (human children, not even MONKEY children!), would YOU leave them all night without a babysitter?
I didn't think so.
Really, the parents had it coming. When their children dive into the bathtub to make a big splash, when they write their names with jam, when they leave the fridge open and ruin the curtains (and all in alphabetical order, too!), I know whose fault it is. THE PARENTS.
The alphabet theme is a little understated here - it's a fun addition, but they're not announcing in big letters A is for APPLES and ANDY throwing an AIRPLANE on each page. There's a 4 line rhyme with the alliterative word in bold, and that's about it. (The names of the monkeys are on their pajama shirts.)
The pictures are amusing enough, but to tell the truth I didn't like the language that much. It seemed a little... like I've seen it all before. It could have been better. And I didn't like the rhyme for Z, either. Not only did the 26th monkey not get to do anything, but they were all taken (in pink dresses for the girls and blue sailor suits for the boys) to the zoo as... a treat? That's how it reads, with them walking along with balloons and umbrellas. I know it's Mom and Dad's fault the house is such a mess, but still... shouldn't they be punished just a little? Maybe by having to STAY HOME and clean it up? (Unless they're being brought to the zoo to be abandoned there for being so naughty, which makes sense but WOW what a message.)
I don't know, it's just not sitting right. And like I said, the rhymes? I've read better. Nice artwork, though.
I didn't think so.
Really, the parents had it coming. When their children dive into the bathtub to make a big splash, when they write their names with jam, when they leave the fridge open and ruin the curtains (and all in alphabetical order, too!), I know whose fault it is. THE PARENTS.
The alphabet theme is a little understated here - it's a fun addition, but they're not announcing in big letters A is for APPLES and ANDY throwing an AIRPLANE on each page. There's a 4 line rhyme with the alliterative word in bold, and that's about it. (The names of the monkeys are on their pajama shirts.)
The pictures are amusing enough, but to tell the truth I didn't like the language that much. It seemed a little... like I've seen it all before. It could have been better. And I didn't like the rhyme for Z, either. Not only did the 26th monkey not get to do anything, but they were all taken (in pink dresses for the girls and blue sailor suits for the boys) to the zoo as... a treat? That's how it reads, with them walking along with balloons and umbrellas. I know it's Mom and Dad's fault the house is such a mess, but still... shouldn't they be punished just a little? Maybe by having to STAY HOME and clean it up? (Unless they're being brought to the zoo to be abandoned there for being so naughty, which makes sense but WOW what a message.)
I don't know, it's just not sitting right. And like I said, the rhymes? I've read better. Nice artwork, though.
February 9, 2017
A great read for young readers who are learning words that go with each letter in the alphabet.
February 14, 2015
Naughty Little Monkeys:
This is a pleasurable book for students and for teachers. I enjoyed it and loved the idea behind it. I chose this book because the cover drew me to it since I love monkeys. At nineteen years old, I still want a monkey as a pet. However, through out the book there are twenty six monkeys who do a certain thing and are named after one letter of the alphabet. This is an enjoyable way to teach students the sequence of the alphabet with monkeys doing some crazy things. A great idea would have each student in the class do an activity that begins with a letter of the alphabet and do all the activities in order and have some fun with learning the sequence of the alphabet.
This is a pleasurable book for students and for teachers. I enjoyed it and loved the idea behind it. I chose this book because the cover drew me to it since I love monkeys. At nineteen years old, I still want a monkey as a pet. However, through out the book there are twenty six monkeys who do a certain thing and are named after one letter of the alphabet. This is an enjoyable way to teach students the sequence of the alphabet with monkeys doing some crazy things. A great idea would have each student in the class do an activity that begins with a letter of the alphabet and do all the activities in order and have some fun with learning the sequence of the alphabet.
August 7, 2013
We got this book from our public library.
Absolutely adorable! The rhyming and how you go through the alphabet and each word go with each letter was great. Me and my son got our chuckles in on this book.
My son's favorite part was with the letter G and the naughty little monkey was playing with her gum.
My favorite part was the ending where they all went to the zoo! If you are looking for a book that will get your little ones to giggle and laugh at the monkeys and their behavior then you have to get this book to read.
Absolutely adorable! The rhyming and how you go through the alphabet and each word go with each letter was great. Me and my son got our chuckles in on this book.
My son's favorite part was with the letter G and the naughty little monkey was playing with her gum.
My favorite part was the ending where they all went to the zoo! If you are looking for a book that will get your little ones to giggle and laugh at the monkeys and their behavior then you have to get this book to read.
January 13, 2012
In this book, there are twenty six naughty monkeys whose names correspond to a letter of the alphabet. The monkeys do many different naughty things that add a lot of excitement to each page. The illustrations are especially intriguing!
Since this book is an ABC book, it can most definitely be used for alphabet lessons. However, it can also be used for math and counting lessons. Monkeys, as well as many other objects, can be counted for fun!
Since this book is an ABC book, it can most definitely be used for alphabet lessons. However, it can also be used for math and counting lessons. Monkeys, as well as many other objects, can be counted for fun!
March 21, 2012
This book follows 26 different monkeys who are very naughty!Every page has a word corresponding with a letter in the alphabet. This book would also be excellent for a rhyming lesson!Since there are 26 letters in the alphabet, this would also work for a math lesson on counting. A teacher could have her students count how many monkeys the book describes.
The illustrations are vibrant and hilarious, and the story is incredibly entertaining! GREAT book for K-2.
January 31, 2013
There are 26 naughty little monkeys. Their parents leave them at home to go out, and the naughty little monkeys destroy the house. Their parents get back home and are furious, in the end they end up taking them on a trip to the zoo. Each of the 26 little monkeys has a name begins with one of the 26 letters of the alphabet. This is a good book to go over the alphabet with young children. This book can also teach about rhyming since there is a lot of it going on throughout the story.
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February 2, 2016This book is a cute story about how human parents have 26 little monkeys. The monkeys end up destroying things with words that begin with that letter of the alphabet that they are on. The word that they have selected is then written in a different color, so the students can tell which word they used. I think that this a very cute story to bring to the classroom, it is a different way that I have seen by using the alphabet.
October 31, 2007
This is a great patterned picture-book. I thought it was really funny and cute. Kids will love the predicatable pattern and the funny pictures. It would be great for teaching kids about the alphabet because each naughty little monkey has a name that begins with a different letter of the alphabet (all 26). It would also be fun to have the kids make their own alphabet book.
March 17, 2011
Great for kindergarten or prek when they are learning their letters. The monkeys in this story were so bad that the author listed what they did in ABC order. If i was to use this book in my class i would have the students come up with their own list of things that start with the letters of the alphabet.
March 24, 2012
This is lots of fun: 26 monkeys are left alone while their (human) mom and dad go out for the evening. They get into all kinds of mischief, each activity matching a letter of the alphabet. The illustrations add to the hilarity - full double-page spreads show the monkeys swinging around, making huge messes, and we're soooo anxious to see what mom and dad will do when they get back.
January 29, 2015
I really like this book because it did a great job of incorporating the ABCs with each individual monkey. I also like how it is a rhyming book and the bolder words correspond with the alphabet. My favorite is the ending and even though all the little monkeys caused a ruckus and made a mess, the parents took them to the zoo.
February 3, 2015
Naughty Little Monkeys was a good number book to read, and I also think it would be good to read in a classroom of ages second grade and up. There were several things going on with illustration. So it may be a little distracting for students. This would be used in my classroom to help students learn how to count the their numbers. By seeing and counting how many monkeys are in the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews