FICTION

Putting the Monkeys to Bed

by Gennifer CHOLDENKO
illus. by Jack E. Davis. 32p. Putnam. Jun. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780399246234; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780698408548.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2—Sam is a curious boy, whose mother has tucked him in for the night, yet he can't help but wonder about how and where other people and creatures sleep. As he yells for his mother to ask more questions, his toy monkeys come to life and cause a ruckus. Sam tries his best to quiet his mind and go to sleep, even doing some breathing exercises. Yet, it is only when he pulls out a bedtime story that he is able to calm himself and the monkeys and drift off to slumber. Choldenko's story is funny, if at times potentially confusing, though perfectly capturing Sam's wandering mind. The illustrations are fun, with bold movement lines indicating a chaotic and hectic bedtime frenzy, and monkeys that just won't quit. The speech bubbles between Sam and his mother come in big, comic book-style bursts, adding humor.
VERDICT This lovely story about the power of books to help calm and focus would make a fun bedtime story for lots of families.
Reviewed by Kaitlin Connors, Virginia Beach Public Library
Having read the favorite bedtime story and answered the last question, Mama closes Sam’s door. Unfortunately, Sam and his many toy monkeys seem more awake than ever: “They smash and bash and crash-crash-crash until all balls have been bounced and all trains have been trounced.” Busy cartoon art full of overstimulating detail vibrates with energy, allowing readers to absorb what it might feel like to be the freckle-faced, fuzzy-haired protagonist, whose “brain is buzzing.” Even when Sam tries to settle down and take bedtime seriously, he is plagued by more questions (“Do pirates sleep with their eye patches on?”) and by the misbehavior of his toys -- those monkeys refuse to go to sleep. When Mama stops responding to his calls, he must handle the situation on his own. He leads the rowdy monkeys in deep-breathing exercises, a story,
At bedtime, Sam and his toy monkeys are wide awake. Busy cartoon art full of overstimulating detail vibrates with energy, capturing what it might feel like to be Sam, whose "brain is buzzing." Eventually, Sam handles the situation himself, leading the rowdy monkeys in deep-breathing exercises, a story, counting, and cuddling. A comical yet realistic look at bedtime for those who struggle with it.
, Jun 01, 2015

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