Manners Are Not for Monkeys

February 15, 2016
The monkey cage's change of venue--to a spot near the picnic area--causes its inhabitants to learn human manners, but some just can't stand for that. The young monkeys are fascinated by the children outside their cage. And they quickly pick up on the ways the kids and parents interact. It's not long before the monkeys are chewing with their mouths closed, taking turns, playing quietly, and tidying up. This drives their exasperated mother bananas: "TRY TO BEHAVE LIKE MONKEYS!" But each time they try to make her happy, they are deprived of watching the children's antics; the fascinated kids either stop to watch the monkeys or the monkeys lose their concentration. But one day, a wild group of children visits the zoo. They are mystified by the unmonkeylike behavior of the monkeys and set out to show them what to do. When the zookeeper sees this, she understands she's made a terrible mistake. Readers will expect her to move the monkey cage back to its original location, but her solution will have parents nodding in understanding and spark children's laughter. Huyck's digitally colored pencil illustrations play up the humor of the monkeys' well-mannered behavior, and small details add to the fun--look for the monkey with a banana-peel tie and an age-old joke. The families are nicely diverse, and the zookeeper is a middle-aged white woman with a gray ponytail. The twist at the end is both humorous and instructional; adults will hope children see and heed its message. (Picture book. 3-7)

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April 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-When an old zookeeper moves the monkey cage beside the picnic area, the curious young monkeys begin to pick up some new habits from the children they see. Impressed, the monkeys use good manners. Mother Monkey is quickly frustrated by her children's displays of etiquette-chewing with their mouths closed, taking turns, and tidying up their messes. She insists that they "try to behave like monkeys!" However, they have become so used to acting appropriately that they can't recall what monkeys should do. When a particularly wild bunch of children visit the zoo and try to remind the well-behaved monkeys how to swing, screech, and scatter garbage, the old zookeeper realizes that she has made a mistake. She moves the unruly children into the cage and releases the polite little monkeys. The comical illustrations are infused with humor and action. Silly expressions and quirky details make this a natural choice for sharing aloud. VERDICT Pair this title with Mo Willems's Time To Say Please for a fun-filled etiquette-themed storytime!-Whitney LeBlanc, KIPP New Orleans Schools

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2016
Preschool-G Being a monkey sounds pretty great. Monkeys don't have to take turns, chew with their mouths closed, or use their inside voices. In fact, when three little monkeys begin imitating the children in the picnic area at the zookeeping their cage tidy and the screeching to a minimumMother Monkey is downright appalled. It's monkey see, monkey do gone terribly wrong, at least as far as she is concerned. Luckily, a gang of loud, filthy children visits the zoo one day, and the zookeeper is able to make a swap: she gives Mother Monkey the wild children she wants, and sends the well-mannered little monkeys home with grateful parents. Expressive, loose-limbed art done in pencil and digital color contrasts nicely with the text, which has the calm tone of a folktale or fable. The monkeys in particular are entertainingly drawn, as well as the diverse gang of kids who get their comeuppance. Though it might not hold up under close scrutiny, this is a fun, goofy manners lesson that's more playful than preachy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2016
After observing courteous human families from their cage near the zoo playground, three monkey children adopt good manners--to the dismay of their mother, who wants them "to behave like monkeys." When some rude, uncivilized children arrive, the zookeeper decides to release the well-mannered monkeys and cage the unruly children instead. Loose cartoon-style illustrations reflect the absurdity of the amusing tale.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)