Little Monkey Says Good Night ANNOTATION
When Little Monkey says good night to the performers in the big top tent, he creates a circus act of his own.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Before he goes to bed, Little Monkey insists that he has to say good night to all the performers under the Big Top tent: Ringmaster, Elephant, Strong Man, the Clowns, and, of course, Mama. In the process he becomes part of the performance himself - until finally even Little Monkey can't delay bedtime any longer, and there is only one last good night to be said - "Good night, Me!"
Pictures packed with funny antics, whimsy, and affection capture all the charm of Little Monkey - while this simple, playful text will have even the youngest listeners chiming in with their own "Good Night!"
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
When Papa Monkey tells Little Monkey it's time for bed, the irrepressible baby shakes his head: "First I need to say good night," he says. Running into the Big Top, he jumps ("BOING!") right onto the Ringmaster's hat. A series of clunks, bumps and crashes accompanies the rascal as he bids good night to all of the startled circus performers. Little Monkey simply won't stop until he climbs all the way up the high-wire platform and leaps ("SWOOSH!") into the trapeze artist's arms: "Good night, Mama," he says. First-time artist Walker presents the mischievous monkey's escapades via soft-edged, slapstick illustrations. Attractively muted colors subtly reign in the chaos, while varying perspectives highlight Little Monkey's small stature. Full-page art alternates with vignettes and spot art, and each spread gives a visual clue to his next destination. Large type set in curves indicates various sounds and movements, a design element that works best in the denouement. There Little Monkey does a fancy "FLIP! FLIP! FLIP!" from the trapeze into his father's arms ("Good night, Papa"), earning the crowd's applause. Paul (Hello Toes! Hello Feet!) winds down the boisterous text with Little Monkey being tucked into his bed ("Good night, Me"). As lively as Barnum and Bailey, Little Monkey's circus adventure is just plain fun. Ages 2-5. (Apr.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Children's Literature - Amie Rose Rotruck
Before going to sleep, Little Monkey insists on saying "Good night" to everyone in the circus. He jumps, tumbles, slides, and dashes into the lives and acts of all the performers and animals. Each page leads into the next: most end with Little Monkey doing something, and on the following page he meets a new person to say "Good night" to. Sound effect words such as "Clunk," "Swish," and "Whee" are written in large letters and invite the child to speak the word with an adult reading the story aloud. The pictures are colored softly but portray action very well. A child who does not read will have fun following Little Monkey through the circus on his way to bed. This is a cute story and fun to read aloud or silently, but does not have anything that makes it stand out from the numerous "Good night" stories that are available. 2003, Farar Straus Giroux,
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 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 Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Called to bed, Little Monkey won't go until he says good night. "He scampers to the Big Top tent. 'Come back,' calls Papa. / But Little Monkey jumps / BOING! / into the Ringmaster's spotlight. 'Good night, Ringmaster.' Ringmaster tips his tall top hat and sweeps Little Monkey / SWISH! / through the Poodle's hoop. / 'Good night, Poodle.' " One onomatopoetic leap follows another as Little Monkey bids good night to each performer. His rounds end in a swish with Mama on the trapeze followed by the excited clapping and cheering of the crowd. Finally, Papa tucks Little Monkey in with a good night of his very own. Paul (Silly Sadie, Silly Samuel, 2000, etc.) inspired by her own son's need to wish everyone in the house good night, has written one of the noisiest bedtime stories ever. Debut children's book illustrator Walker's pudgy, smiling, energetic characters are rendered in soft yet bright pastel colors. Together they have created a perfect good-night read. The only drawback is that when listeners reach the end, they'll ask to start again. (Picture book. 2-5)
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