Review by Booklist Review
Monkey lives in the jungle, where he enjoys eating bananas alone, reading books alone, and swimming in the lake alone. Clearly, he is content on his own, but one day, the Little One arrives and tries to befriend him. Though Monkey resists, the cheerful mouse persists, setting up his belongings beneath Monkey's hammock, hanging out with him, and copying everything he does. Annoyed, Monkey finally yells at the Little One, who leaves. Out of sorts and missing his companion, Monkey searches for the amiable mouse in hopes of persuading him to return. Expressive pencil drawings define the lovable characters, while overlapping color washes create the settings, brighten the scenes, and heighten the emotional content of this satisfying story. The basic plot may not be new, but young children will enjoy the simple, direct storytelling and, of course, the happy ending.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This friendship tale introduces Monkey, who "lived all alone in the jungle. He liked it that way." He's miffed when a mouse appears, umbrella and valise in hand, but his requests that his visitor go away are ignored, since the Little One doesn't understand "monkey-speak." It doesn't take much to see this relationship as a metaphor for that between a child and a new (and perhaps similarly unwanted) sibling, especially after the Little One starts "making himself at home" under Monkey's hammock, following him everywhere, and copying his actions. After the Little One disrupts Monkey's quiet swim at the lake, Monkey's anger boils over; droplets shower from his sodden brown fur as he shouts, "Leave me alone!" and a downcast Little One wanders away, despondently clutching a striped inner tube. While the story holds no real surprises (a lonely Monkey seeks out the Little One and brings him back to the jungle), Alexander's (Back to Front and Upside Down!) paintings do a fine job of capturing her characters' strong emotions while creating an appealing jungle home for them to share-eventually. Ages 3-5. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Monkey lives a quiet life alone in the jungle, eating bananas on a tree limb, reading books, and swimming in the cool lake. An unexpected visitor, a mouse known as Little One, arrives and starts making himself at home. At first, Monkey is frustrated as Little One copies everything he does, interrupting his peace and quiet. Little One doesn't understand "monkey-speak" when he is politely asked to leave. After Monkey shouts, "Leave me alone!" a couple of times, Little One finally gets the idea and leaves. Monkey finds that being alone doesn't feel the same and soon sets off to find Little One and welcome him back. The soft and sunny, full-bleed watercolor illustrations are lovely, although not all scenes look like a jungle. VERDICT A sweet and simple introduction to the challenges and rewards of sharing company.-Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH © Copyright 2015. 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 Kirkus Book Review
A mouse disturbs a monkey's tranquility but soon turns from irksome to indispensable in Alexander's tale of friendship's often strange course.First, however, the artwork: a lovely combination of media creates landscapes and companionable characters in a broad range of sunny (if not particularly jungly) pastels. The story: Monkey lives alone in the jungle ("he liked it that way"), munching on bananas, reading in the crook of a tree limb, swimming in the cool, cool water of the lake. Little One (a mouse) appears, unbidden and unwanted. Monkey politely asks him to scram. Mouse is not conversant with "monkey-speak," so he blithely settles in under Monkey's hammock. Little One follows Monkey everywhere, innocently mimicking him (except for the bananas: "Yuck!") and holding out peace offering after peace offering. Finally, Monkey erupts: "Leave me alone!"; and Little One does. Monkey finds himself discomfited. It's not remorse or loneliness but something ineffable: "somehow it didn't feel the same as before." Monkey goes in search of Little One and welcomes him back. "The Little One still followed Monkey everywhere...but somehow Monkey didn't mind anymore." Somehowbut what changed Monkey's mind? Sharing company can be a complicated, contradictory, confusing (dis)pleasure, but "somehow" doesn't pass muster. There is nothing here for young readers to hang their hats on, no takeaway. The story looks beautiful, but the depths of the issue are never plumbed. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
