Monkey Business: Stories from Around the World (Hardcover)

~ (Author), (Illustrator)
Key Phrases: scrawny old woman, brazilwood tree, stone monkey, Uncle Monkey, King Monkey, Prince Rama (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6–This well-told and entertaining book of monkey lore draws on pourquoi and folktales, mythology, facts, and trivia. The book is organized geographically, and the author has matched each story with a specific species of monkey. An annotated bibliography gives further details about the stories and Climo's decisions on how to retell them. While staying true to the originals, she adds engaging details and dialogue. In addition to folklore, the reteller includes a number of proverbs, such as "The monkey does not put its paw into the jaguar's mouth twice." Unfortunately, their messages do not always match the themes of the stories they follow, which is slightly jarring. Numerous colored-pencil-and-watercolor illustrations capture the myriad cultures and creatures represented. As a whole, this collection is unique, well written, and fun. Monkeys are a perennial favorite and the book is sure to find many enthusiastic readers.– Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR
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From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. As in her Someone Saw a Spider collection (1985), Climo intersperses a thematically linked gathering of readable-tellable folktales with proverbs, historical incidents, and natural history. The 13 stories, arranged by continent of origin, include a Mayan creation myth, an episode from The Ramayana, a Liberian variation of "The Monkey and the Crocodile" titled "The Baboon and the Shark," and several trickster tales. In between, children will encounter facts about lemurs, the differences between New World and Old World monkeys, and monkey behavior, as well as notes on slang ("grease monkey," "monkey dodger") and a selection of common folk sayings. Further enlivened by Brooks' witty, precisely detailed watercolors, and capped by source notes. Great for reading aloud. John Peters
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (April 14, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805063927
• ISBN-13: 978-0805063929
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,016,894 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blend folktales with facts and provide fables, proverbs, legends, and introductory facts, July 6, 2005

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Both young adults and younger audiences with parents who like to read aloud will appreciate the lovely new Shirley Climo story collection Monkey Business: Stories From Around The World, featuring color drawings peppered throughout by Eric Brooks, and monkey-focused stories from Africa, the Americas and Asia. This isn't a picturebook, nor is it entirely fiction: 118 pages blend folktales with facts and provide fables, proverbs, legends, and introductory facts. A unique, gorgeous coverage suitable for any elementary-level animal book collection.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Monkeys Galore!, June 15, 2005

By	Erik Brooks (Winthrop, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

BIAS ALERT! I am the illustrator of this book and VERY excited about it :) MONKEY BUSINESS is my first book illustrated for another author and also contains some of my favorite illustration work to date. A big thanks to Shirley Climo for writing the book and to the editors at Henry Holt for letting me illustrate it.

The 14 different stories (and monkeys within) required careful research on primates and cultural/enviromental settings at zoos and libriaries. Expressions and gestures are certainly exaggerated for effect, but opposable thumbs, prehensile tails etc. are all pegged to the appropriate primates. Enjoy!