Manners Are Not for Monkeys - by Heather Tekavec (Hardcover)

About the Book

Mother Monkey is not happy when the little monkeys use good manners and the children who visit the zoo are not happy with well-behaved monkeys.

Book Synopsis

The old zookeeper has no idea how much trouble it will cause when she moves the monkeys into a cage near the picnic and play areas. Now the monkeys can watch the children up close, and they find the children so fascinating that before long, they start behaving just like them! Mother Monkey is not amused. When she sees her little monkeys chewing with their mouths closed, she demands to know what's going on. "We are using good manners," they say. "Manners are not for monkeys," Mother tells them. But it's no use. In fact, her little monkeys won't do any monkey things anymore --- no more swinging all at once from the branches, screeching or tossing their banana peels on the ground. Is there anything Mother Monkey can do to get them to behave like "good little monkeys" again?

This funny picture book by Heather Tekavec turns the topic of manners and behavior on its head and offers a clever, non-preachy way to begin discussions with preschoolers and kindergartners about social skills and self-control --- key skills for school readiness. The expressive faces of both the monkeys and the children speak volumes in the lively, detailed illustrations by David Huyck, adding to the fun. This book makes a wonderful choice for a pre-reader storytime.

Review Quotes

... humorous and instructional; adults will hope children see and heed its message.--Kirkus Reviews

... this is a fun, goofy manners lesson that's more playful than preachy.--Booklist

Adults will enjoy the irony, while young ones will enjoy the mayhem.--Resource Links

Silly expressions and quirky details make this a natural choice for sharing aloud.--School Library Journal

There is a funny twist at the end which leaves readers smiling ...--CM Magazine

About the Author

Heather Tekavec first fell in love with children's literature while working as a preschool teacher. Different? Same! is her eleventh published book and her first nonfiction picture book. Heather lives in Cloverdale, British Columbia.

Raised near Chicago, David grew up half a block from the candy store in one direction, and half a block from the playground in the other. Along with a limitless supply of Legos, cartoons and all genres of books, the resulting high-fructose queasiness is the point source for everything he has made ever since.