Review by Booklist Review
This simple, rhythmic book from the creator of the beloved Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes (2008) tells a brief tale about monkey buddies Cheeky and Chee, who must escape from a lurking leopard by climbing into a tree. Each step of their journey, from Two little monkeys run to a tree, to Two little monkeys tremble in a tree, and finally Two little monkeys leap from a tree! has the same refrain identifying the duo: one named Cheeky, / one named Chee. This gives the youngest listeners a recurring touchstone, encouraging verbal participation. Soft watercolors show the young monkeys in their leafy environment, with facial expressions and positioning just like those of young kids playing hide-and-seek. With just enough danger to create drama, this isn't too scary and the resolution is cheery: Cheeky and Chee at last relax among the branches, eating fruit from the sheltering tree.--Foote, Diane Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Aping the format of the classic nursery rhyme "Two Little Dickie Birds," Fox's variation features two small monkeys "playing near a tree,/ one named Cheeky,/ one named Chee." The monkeys escape from a prowling animal by climbing up the tree to safety ("Scramble up, Cheeky!/ Scramble up, Chee!/ Scramble up/ that big old tree"). They tremble and hide, but when one of the monkeys peeps out to get a good look at the leopard ("Ooooooh... Scary!"), a near-fall necessitates a jump to a second tree, where the monkeys are finally safe and sound. The repetition, lively meter, and ample drama in Fox's (Let's Count Goats!) verse will easily keep young readers' attention at storytime. Barton's (The Ring Went Zing!) grey long-limbed monkeys have a decidedly toddlerlike resemblance, their faces readily transmitting their glee and fear at various points in the story. While the delicately detailed watercolor illustrations perhaps do not make the climactic fall/leap as clear as it could be, and the second tree appears out of nowhere, readers will still have a good sense of what's at stake in this bit of animal-kingdom drama. Ages 4-8. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-This playful picture book told in rhyme invites youngsters to explore language through repetition and active sight clues. Cheeky and Chee are cavorting around a tree when they notice a jaguar prowling in the grass. They scurry up the branches and hide in the leaves, and cleverly find a way to escape the danger. The crisp, succinct text is carefully crafted with a few lines on each page, making it perfect for young audiences with short attention spans. The fresh watercolors predominantly done in light blues, greens, oranges, and browns provide the feel of the savanna on a hot day. The facial expressions on the monkeys radiate happiness through their eyes and mouths, or fear as they hold each other close in the treetop camouflaged from the scary jaguar. Tailor-made for one-on-one reading and group sharing.-Anne Beier, Hendrick Hudson Free Library, Montrose, NY (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Monkey friends Cheeky and Chee are happily playing on the savanna, but "something's prowling -- / what could it be?" Once alerted, they don't wait to find out (though sharp-eyed viewers might hazard a guess), and off they dash up a "big old tree." When they feel brave enough, they peep down to check: "Who IS that prowling? / What do you see?" The leopard below looks "Ooooooh... Scary!" to Cheeky and Chee, but Barton's ground-level illustration of the big cat isn't very threatening. It is a little unnerving when one monkey loses her balance and begins to fall; young kids will cheer after Cheeky and Chee both successfully leap to another tree. Barton has her work cut out for her in this book, as most of the scenes feature the identical-looking gray and white monkeys in a tree (trembling, hiding, peeping, etc.). Fox's peppy rhyming text propels the story forward; similarly, Barton's watercolor compositions draw the eye across spreads, keeping pace with the narrative's infectious energy. The monkeys' expressions anticipate viewers' responses to the drama, which has just the right amount of tension for preschoolers. Expect to see lots of Cheekys and Chees monkeying around after story hour. kitty flynn (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Irresistible rhythm, adorable monkeys and pitch-perfect rhyme make this a must-have for the preschool set. "Two little monkeys / playing near a tree, / one named Cheeky, / one named Chee." With the familiar rhythm of a nursery-school finger game, the text draws children into this story of two little monkeys and their escapades on the plains. Playing among the high grasses and dirt, Cheeky and Chee are frightened by something prowling and take refuge in a nearby tree. Strong verbs like scramble, tremble, peep and leap are easy to decode and understand, allowing young readers to enjoy the pictures or act out the story along with these brave little monkeys. Barton's soft watercolors, in purple, gray and tan, are both captivating and comforting--never will readers actually fear for Cheeky and Chee's safety. Hidden in the landscape are hints of the action to come: a tail in the grass or leopard spots in the brush. Gently paced visual and textual narratives (especially when the little monkeys are falling from a tree or running from the predator) make the book ideal for frequent rereading. The easy rhythm and rhyme will allow lap listeners to chant along while they memorize this one. Look for little humans to add this to their play repertoire. (Picture book. 1-4)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
