'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Review: Monkey Don't

Poor Charlie is no longer allowed to do what monkeys love the most…to climb trees.

What will Charlie do now?

Charlie is the ultimate boy who likes to climb trees, play in the mud and creep up behind others. His activities are constantly being thwarted by other savannah animals - ostrich, warthog, honey badger, gnu and more - scolding him “Monkey don’t.”

While Charlie is a cheeky daredevil, he does have the chance to prove that he is reliable and a fast thinker under pressure.

Monkey Don’t is the third book in the series about Charlie. One of the previous titles, Cheeky Charlie describes his character perfectly.

Ben Redlich’s expressive and animated characters draw me into his books.

This is the first time that I have met Charlie. Ben’s illustrations transported me into Charlie’s world. I could hear the tune Charlie would whistle while bored or shrieking in delight or gasping in shock. I could visualise Charlie in an animation strutting with pride, with his chest puffed up and shoulders back.

Then to my delight I found that Ben had indeed turned his cartoon styled monkey into a series of short animations on his blog. The animations also brought to life the gnu, with an enlarged head and horns, with small eyes and a body supported on spindly legs.

Charlie’s humorous antics will make children chuckle.

- this review by Leanne Barrett 

Title: Monkey Don’t
Author/Illustrator: Ben Redlich
Publisher: Koala Books, $13.99 RRP
Publication Date: September 2012
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781742760148
For ages: 5 – 9 years
Type: Picture Book