Customer Reviews

Monkey Sunday: A Story from a Congolese Village

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Beautifully illustrated with a wonderful story! You can't help but fall in love with it. I cannot understand how Kirkus has managed yet once more to put down another exquisite book; they are so often wrong I can no longer trust their judgment at all. Sanna Stanley has written a lovely book for children.

The reader from Portland was right--there's something about this book that's not a kid's book. It's weirdly Lolita-ish.

Sanna's story of Luzolo fills one with the need to wiggle around and chase after all of the animals, yet also the tug to prove to her parents that she really can stay still as she promised. Matondo was alway a difficult time to stay sill in the seat as all the singing, dancing, clapping, and rejoicing went on around, especially with all the animals. Sanna's story telling and illustrations bring back wonderful memories of my childhood Matondos, of which I am now able to share with my own children in a very special way. Thanks Sanna.

This book takes you into a world of intimate and tender family relations in an African village. Exquisitely and originally illustrated, the world is set upside down, but in the end the child (and child reader) feel they belong and would like to return to the loving safety of village life..whoever reviewed this book for Kirkus is so wrong it's criminal.

The Kirkus reviewer, in my humble opinion, reflects an over educated mind, and one who has no appreciation for varying art styles. Though I have highly respected their reviews in the past, on this occasion, I must disagree. If you enjoy a simply, beautifully told story, with well-thought drawing that DO guide the story along, this book is for you and your children.

Children's books should be fun to read. This book is too aware of itself. The emphasis should be toward making the child react in an interested manner, but my five-yaer-old said, "It's boring." (Sorry, Ms. Stanley.)