Monkey Puzzle

What do our readers think of Monkey Puzzle? (Generated from the text of reviews of the book)

Children enjoy the funny animal mix-ups, catchy rhymes and repeated words, often joining in and asking for the story again. Some older children find it a little too simple, but younger children especially enjoy spotting the animals and hearing Monkey’s frustrated voice.

What does the Pageticker team say about Monkey Puzzle?

We love the lively rhyming text, colourful rainforest setting and the comic pattern of Butterfly’s well-meant mistakes. It is an engaging read-aloud for younger children, with plenty of repetition to join in with and a reassuring message about love, patience and finding your way home; a twist, and then another twist, bring the tale to a delightful conclusion.

Genres

What is Monkey Puzzle about?

Little Monkey has lost his mum in the jungle! Luckily, Butterfly is ready to help, but keeps leading Monkey to the wrong animals – from elephants to snakes. Will Monkey ever be reunited with his mum? Join this delightful adventure through the colourful rainforest, filled with friendly creatures and gentle humour. A heartwarming tale of love, patience, and friendship, perfect for sharing with young children.

About the author

Julia Donaldson is a much-loved British author who has written many wonderful books for children. She is best known for creating 'The Gruffalo', a story about a clever mouse and a magical creature. Julia often works with illustrator Axel Scheffler to bring her fun and imaginative stories to life.

Discussion ideas around Monkey Puzzle

Helping Hands: How does Butterfly try to help Monkey, and what makes her a good friend even when she gets things wrong?

Describing Someone: What clues does Monkey give about his mum, and what other clues could have helped Butterfly understand?

Funny Mix-Ups: Which animal mix-up makes you laugh most, and why do you think the mistakes are funny rather than frightening?

Families: Why do you think Monkey is so determined to find his mum, and what helps him feel safe during the search?

Animal Families: How are the baby animals in the story different from their parents, and what can we learn from looking closely at real animals?