Monkey

Starred review from May 11, 2015
Kindergarten is approaching, and Monkey’s fears are mounting: “What if he can’t remember the whole alphabet? What if he doesn’t make new friends?” Luckily, there’s a week left before school actually starts, which gives Monkey’s family plenty of time to help him feel ready. They all “play school” at home (Monkey and his brother take turns being teacher), and a play date lets Monkey meet his future classmates ahead of time. Brown’s hand-scrawled text and childlike pencil-and-gouache artwork give the impression that he’s on Monkey’s side—and that of readers—from the very first page, creating an eminently reassuring and empathetic resource for kindergarteners-to-be. Ages 3–7.

Starred review from August 1, 2015

PreS-Monkey draws on his supportive family to combat first-day-of-school jitters in this new picture book. His parents and big brother are very excited about kindergarten, but Monkey isn't so sure. Along with the usual list of worrisome "what ifs," Monkey doubts he even needs kindergarten. After all, he can count to 12, and he's pretty good with the alphabet. Brown's narrative models a family-centered approach to combating common preschool fears as Monkey and his family prepare together for the big day. Monkey plays teacher, demonstrating for his "students" (Mom and Dad) how to count, and they visit the library to read books about starting school. A playdate with some of his potential classmates gives him a chance to start making friends early, and the night before, Monkey helps get everything ready. Throughout, the emphasis is on Monkey as an active participant in the preparation, taking ownership of this new experience. He picks out his own lunchbox, helps pack his lunch, and even selects a favorite book to remind him of home. With his big, expressive eyes, Monkey is the center of Brown's vibrant spreads. Colored pencil and gouache illustrations and childlike hand lettering illuminate Monkey's personality and keep the story grounded in his perspective. VERDICT While not breaking any new ground, Brown's kid-centered perspective and accessible model for preparation make this title rise to the top of its class. A first purchase.-Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2015
In the week before kindergarten starts, Monkey's parents and older brother do all they can to help him feel ready. Will it be enough? At the beginning of the week, Monkey is definitely not ready. He sucks his thumb while snuggling his blankie, plays with his familiar toys, and has a whole list of worries. Besides, he doesn't really need to go to school: he can already count to 12 and remember most of the alphabet. His parents buy him a new lunch box and cool sneakers; he plays school with his family, and his older brother tells him about all the fun he'll have; and Mommy and Daddy read him all the books about kindergarten at the library. A playdate with his new classmates also helps put his fears to rest. The night before his first day, he makes his lunch and packs a favorite book from home, and in the morning, Monkey walks into his classroom, finally ready. While the colored-pencil-and-gouache illustrations are bright and colorful and show things that will be familiar to readers, Brown's monkeys are not terribly cute or cuddly. Rendered in a childlike style, their expressions are sometimes odd. Also, those practicing new reading skills may have difficulty with Brown's handwritten text, as the a's look like d's, letters that usually dip below the line don't, and sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between upper- and lowercase letters. Still, sure to give readers, whether adult or child, lots of ideas for easing children into the transition to school. (Picture book. 3-6)

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August 21, 2017
Having previously adjusted to kindergarten and a new sibling, Monkey struggles with falling asleep in this simultaneously funny and sympathetic story. Brown again uses childlike handwriting, pencil scribbles, and splotches of paint to give the sense that Monkey is telling his own story. Monkey’s complaints will be familiar to many families (“I’m thirsty,” “I’m not tired”), as will his parents’ efforts to help (warm milk, a backrub) and the effects of not enough sleep (a young lion stares at Monkey with concern the next day—he has fallen asleep mid-swing on the playground). Counting dinosaurs at bedtime leads to raucous fun (“He flies with the Dimorphodons. He rocks with T. rex”), an outpouring of energy that sends Monkey to sleep. Brown’s attention to detail in his gouache and colored pencil images elevates an otherwise familiar struggling-with-sleep story. Ages 3–7.

January 1, 2016
With a long list of "What ifs?" concerning everything from making friends to learning the alphabet to finding the bathroom, Monkey feels uneasy about starting kindergarten. His family, however, rallies to soothe his worries and prepare him for the big day. Handwritten text and colorful illustrations emphasize the child-centered psyche at work, while the content offers a calming model for addressing children's anxieties.

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