6 Picture Books About Monkey Business

Curious George, by H.A. Ray
It is impossible to make a list of monkey books and not start with the most iconic of them all: Curious George. At this point there is a Curious George book for absolutely every holiday and activity you may be interested in (not to mention the accompanying movies, television shows and games). To name just a few: Easter, making pancakes, miniature golf, and even Curious George Plumber’s Helper! Pick your favorite, and let this adorable monkey and his sidekick “The Man With the Yellow Hat” take you on a silly and fun adventure. Stay curious!

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, by Eileen Christelow
Five little monkeys are jumping on the bed, one falls off and…Well, most of you know probably know the rest of this story! A fun book to read out loud, this familiar rhyme is silly fun, and there are cute illustrations to boot. Hopefully won’t inspire any bed jumping or head bumping! (Monkey see monkey do!)

Quick, Little Monkey!, by Sarah L. Thomson and Lita Judge
This picture book features the world’s littlest monkeys: pygmy marmosets. From the author’s note I learned that “an adult weighs about as much as a stick of butter, and a baby could easily curl up in your hand.” I mean, adorable right? Our Little Monkey and her father fly through the jungle treetops in an exciting verdant adventure. If you’re afraid of snakes (like I am), spoiler alert: “beware that vine has eyes.”

Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla, by Katherine Applegate and G. Brian Karas
This picture book is based on a sad but true story of Ivan, a baby gorilla who was taken from its natural habitat in Africa and relocated to a shopping mall in Tacoma, Washington as a way to bring in customers. (It is also based on Applegate’s Newbery medal winning The One and Only Ivan, which is perfect for middle grade readers.) This heart-tugging story will have you rooting for the animals (and had me more than a little teary, to be honest). Luckily for Ivan, he has a happy ending and gets to leave the mall and go back into nature. Photographs of the real Ivan are a nice addition.

Monkey and the Little One, by Claire Alexander
A sweet story of inter-species friendship, Monkey and the Little One shows what happens when a cute mouse meets a self-sufficient monkey. Monkey is happy on his own in the jungle, and tries to get rid of his pesky new acquaintance. But when Monkey succeeds in losing Little One, he realizes he might not be as independent as he originally thought.

Goodnight Gorilla, by Peggy Rathmann
This adorable board book features a gorilla with sticky fingers who does not want to go to sleep. So when the zookeeper says goodnight to all of the animals, our trouble-making monkey is tiptoeing right behind him (with the zookeeper’s key ring) and letting out all his zoo animal friends. A funny bedtime read perfect for tucking in your wild animals.