Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed

by Eileen Christelow

Overview

In this eighth title in the wildly popular series, the Five Little Monkeys are supposed to go to bed, but they would rather keep reading their books!

Mama raises an eyebrow. “What was it I said? Lights out! Sweet dreams! No more reading in bed!”

After their mama reads to them, it’s bedtime for the Five Little Monkeys. But they can’t resist reading just one more book . . . or three! Soon Mama is so tired of trying to get her monkeys to quiet down and go to sleep, she picks up their books and takes them with her. At last, the monkeys are ready to settle down . . . until they hear strange sounds from down the hall. Could it be that Mama likes to read in bed, too? This playful addition to the Five Little Monkeys series returns to the familiar setting of Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed and features a lively rhymed verse and catchy refrain that are sure to keep young readers chanting along. With a focus on reading for fun and the idea of books as part of a bedtime routine, Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed packs in plenty of mischievous monkey business, and there’s even a comical surprise twist at the end.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544173309
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	04/01/2014
Series:	A Five Little Monkeys Story Series
Pages:	34
Sales rank:	83,084
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 6.70(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	AD260L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Eileen Christelow has created many picture books, including the wildly popular Five Little Monkeys series, Vote!, and two books about Emma, the Desperate Dog. She and her husband, Ahren, live in East Dummerston, Vermont. To learn more about Eileen and her books, please visit www.christelow.com.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Reading promotion at its best, with a little bit of bad behavior to spice things up."—Kirkus 

 

"They [children] will continue to be delighted, as this time the monkeys turn the tables on their mother at the conclusion of the tale."—School Library Journal

"The interactive text is fun for reading aloud, and the digital line-and-wash illustrations perfectly capture the little monkeys’ zany glee."—Booklist

Editorial Reviews

"Reading promotion at its best, with a little bit of bad behavior to spice things up." —Kirkus 

 

"They [children] will continue to be delighted, as this time the monkeys turn the tables on their mother at the conclusion of the tale."—School Library Journal

"The interactive text is fun for reading aloud, and the digital line-and-wash illustrations perfectly capture the little monkeys’ zany glee."—Booklist

From the Publisher

Brain research is increasingly establishing that the best predictors for later school success is the way young children are supported in developing positive attitudes towards learning and doing activities that get understanding into their eyes, ears, fingers, toes and heads! Counting finger-plays and songs are a natural way to do this. And when Christelow puts a new twist on the ever popular 5 Little Monkeys there's a real value-added effect. Mamma's too tired to read to her lively little monkeys—so they take turns reading to each other. But they get so absorbed in the sad, happy, or exciting tone of each book that Mamma has to come in and try to settle them down. The last time, she takes the books and turns out the light only to have the little ones come into her bedroom to discover she's the one reading the books that got her little ones giggling, laughing and sniffling at the sad parts. Reviewer: Mary Hynes-Berry

Children's Literature - Mary Hynes-Berry

PreS-Gr 1—Mama is too tired to read to her five little monkeys, so they decide to spread out their books on their bed and read to themselves. They cry when the books are sad, and cheer at the appropriate moments. In spite of their mother's admonition to turn out the light, they read a ghost story and frighten themselves, and Mama storms in. And so it continues until they finally to go sleep. Children will be amused by Christelow's colorful pen-and-ink cartoons of expressive and active monkeys and her jaunty rhyming couplets. It will also be fun to explore the titles of the books scattered about the monkeys' extra-wide bed in order to anticipate the siblings' reactions for each story. Since the publication of Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed (Clarion, 1989), youngsters have enjoyed seven titles in this popular series. They will continue to be delighted, as this time the monkeys turn the tables on their mother at the conclusion of the tale.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

School Library Journal

Christelow's mischief-making monkey siblings return to the bed for their eighth Mama-frustrating adventure.

"When the five little monkeys are ready for bed, / their Mama reads stories, then kisses each head. / 'It's bedtime for Monkeys! Now turn out the light.' 'Oh, Mama! Oh, PLEASE! One more story tonight!' " But Mama is tired. She wishes them goodnight, but the light doesn't go out. Those five little monkeys decide to read to themselves. When their sad story of a lost pup ends happily, they whoop and holler until Mama breaks in. "Mama raises an eyebrow. 'What was it I said? / Lights out! Sweet dreams! / No more reading in bed!' " Have those five little monkeys ever minded? A scary book makes them scream. Mama returns. A funny book makes them laugh. Mama returns. When they're finally drifting off, strange noises come from down the hall. It's tired Mama reading in her bed, and it's their turn to admonish her. Christelow's silly simians are just as bouncy as they ever were. If their histrionics are a bit over the top from a parental point of view, the target audience won't care and might just join in. The author's watercolor illustrations are solid as ever.

Reading promotion at its best, with a little bit of bad behavior to spice things up.(Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews