Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car (Paperback)

by Eileen Christelow (Author) "The five little monkeys, and Mama, can never drive far in their rickety, rattletrap wreck of a car..." (more)
Key Phrases: little monkeys

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
The five little monkeys and their mama have had it with their "rickety, rattletrap wreck of a car." It's time to sell this old heap. Mama makes a "For Sale" sign and goes inside. But her ever-helpful children worry that the car is too icky, sticky, and slimy, and take matters into their own industrious hands. "I know!" says one little monkey. And next thing they know, they're washing and scrubbing the filthy jalopy. Now it's clean, but still rusty and stinky. The monkeys ponder. "I know!" says one little monkey. Soon the car is painted and perfumed within an inch of its life. Unfortunately, it's not visible to potential buyers. "I know!" says one little monkey. With all these collective brainstorms, it's not long before the sparkly clean, psychedelically colorful car has landed in the swamp, with the five chagrined little monkeys inside, and a gaggle of crocodiles lurking nearby, licking their chops. How will they ever get themselves out of this mess, and sell the car, to boot? "I know!" says one little monkey...

These five are no strangers to silly predicaments and clever solutions, as evidenced in Eileen Christelow's four other entertaining picture books about the quintet, including Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed and Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-A slight story told in rhyme. The monkeys' old family car becomes too much trouble for Mama and is put up for sale. The five little ones take it upon themselves to spruce it up, but despite their good intentions, the vehicle ends up in a swamp. Some crocodiles come to the rescue and decide to buy the wreck and the monkey family drives off in a snazzy red convertible. The pencil-and-watercolor illustrations highlight the industrious little monkeys and their expressive faces as the mishap unfolds. The rhyme scheme enhances the story, such that it is, although it sometimes sounds forced. Children may enjoy this addition to the other stories about the little monkeys, but may need an explanation of the economics of selling a heap and ending up with a brand new car.
Denise Reitsma, Howe Library, Hanover, NH
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (August 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 061848602X
• ISBN-13: 978-0618486021
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #330,145 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another charming monkeys book!, April 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car (Hardcover)

Christelow has a way with the five little monkeys...my 2 1/2 year old daughter loves each edition and this one is no exception. She enjoys the crocodiles and the trouble that the monkeys have selling their car. The illustrations are really well done. What's nice is that the ending is not scary at all and the monkeys succeed!

4.0 out of 5 stars The first original story in the series breaks out., March 30, 2009

By	Robert P. Beveridge "xterminal" (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Eileen Christelow, Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car (Clarion, 2000)

I always knew that when Eileen Christelow got away from straight nursery-rhyme retellings these Five Little Monkeys books were going to get good. This one confirms my suspicions quite nicely, as Christelow comes up with a fun plot and adds it to the usual zany antics of the monkey children. Mom wants to sell their rattletrap old car, but it looks a mess, so the kids decide to wash it. And, of course, washing it isn't quite enough, so they go farther and farther until things become entirely absurd, as they always do in Five Little Monkey-land. That is, of course, just how we like them. A fun entry in a fun series. *** ½

5.0 out of 5 stars Instant favorite, March 8, 2009

By	Jen D. (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

My 3-year old son is a big 5 little monkeys fan and he loves cars, so this book has been a real hit. It's a very cute rhyming story, and has quickly become one of his favorites!