Little Monkey Says Good Night - Hardcover

Ann Whitford Paul’s popular picture books include Hello Toes! Hello Feet!, a Child magazine Best Book of the Year. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

David Walker’s art can be found in everything from stationery to home decor. This is his first children’s book. He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

PreSchool-Grade 2-Before he obeys his father's summons to bed, Little Monkey insists he must say good night. So he "scampers to the Big Top tent" where he is catapulted from one circus performer to another, singing out his good night to one and all. The result is a comic progression from Ringmaster to clowns to band to a somersault on the flying trapeze right into Mama and Papa Monkey's arms-accompanied by the roar and applause of the crowd. The whimsical cartoon paintings are essential to the enjoyment of the brief text. Using full- and double-page images framed in white as well as small vignettes, Walker enticingly paces the illustrations so that a page turn is required to reveal Little Monkey's next landing place. Young readers will enjoy guessing that a large backside and small tail belong to Elephant, that what seems like a ball is really Strongman's barbell, and that a ladder leads to the flying trapeze. The "Rat-a-tat!" of the band, the "Boing!" "Crash!" "Swoosh!" "Clunk!" "Swish!" and other sounds of Little Monkey's travels also provide great noisemaking opportunities. Little Monkey and that other star of the circus, Olivia, will provide youngsters with some delightful moments under the Big Top.
Marianne Saccardi, Norwalk Community College, CT
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