Monkey Do!

by Allan Ahlberg, André Amstutz

A rhyming picture book that tells what happens when a clever little monkey obtains the key to his cage, escapes and runs all over town until he's so tired at the end of the day that he goes back to find his mum.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Adventure

30 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Allan Ahlberg was one of the UK's most acclaimed and successful authors of children's books - including the best-selling Jolly Postman series. Born in Croydon in 1938, he was educated at Sunderland Technical College. Although he dreamed of becoming a writer since the age of twelve, his route to that goal was somewhat circuitous. Other jobs along the way included postman (not an especially jolly one, he recalls), gravedigger, plumber, and teacher.

Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's author Janet Ahlberg, with whom he often worked. Their daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, is also a children's author.

Reviews

[Les Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable family read. A new author to me and a good start.

[AMY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read-aloud rhyming story about animals that interact with a silly monkey. The illustrations are colorful and whimsical. Kids will enjoy all the antics. Nice twist at the end. Highly recommended for Grades K-1.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick story that is very engaging.

[Zoe Hickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

All about a monkey who escapes the zoo and copies people who he sees doing different things. Eventually he misses his mum and goes home.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children found the monkey very silly! And they weren't a huge fan of him stealing food from babies. I think they might have been hungry while i was reading it.

[Lindsay Lodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit like Curious George, only better.

[Mairéad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, rhyming story perfect for reading aloud with children aged 4+ who are sure to find the silly monkey's antics thoroughly amusing!

[silent · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved the rhyming as well as the ending.

[Cruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author: Allan Ahlberg
Illustrator: André Amstutz
First Published: 1998
Includes: Notes for parents and teachers



Good use of rhyme with and real world situations.

Age:
Read aloud - 3+
Read yourself - 7+

References:
Janet and Allen Alhberg on w'pedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_and_Allan...

-CR-

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be like Goodnight Gorilla from the first couple pages when the Monkey steals the zookeepers keys and lets himself out, but it is more involved and goes a different way that that book entirely. It's cute the ways that Monkey sees, and then does, for both reader and listener.

[Sebin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A monkey who has the key to his cage which means funny monkey business all day! The monkey is doing all silly things! This book can be used to teach positional words because it has many positional words in this book such as up down.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun rhyme about a monkey who escapes from a zoo and proceeds to copy everything he sees around him: gets in the car with the kids, eats a banana with the baby, adds numbers in school and so on. Cartoony illustrations and a good beat make this a winner.

[Avaj · Rating 2 out of 5]

Silly monkey getting himself into precarious situations, is just what children love to read. This is a great book and many children will find it relatable being that they have just about as much energy as little monkey.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mischievous monkey escapes from the zoo and has lots of fun before returning for a snuggle with his mom.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me: what did you think of the book?
Godson: good.

[Rebekah Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the book reminded me of curious George. The book was an easy read. The storyline was easy to follow. It had several repeating lines.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son loved this book for the expansive pictures of the town. Might be a good one to take on the plane. A lot going on in the pictures to point out to kids.

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little long, and I don't like all of the rhymes.

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of a monkey getting out of the zoo and the antics that follow. (Just how many books with this same story line are there?) Nothing original in this one.

Illustrations a pretty good.