dancingmama Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I need help. My niece, 4th grade, likes to send me book challenges for Xmas. This year she requested a fiction book with a monkey as a main character. Anyone have any ideas for me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 The One and Only Ivan is the first thing I thought of, but it's actually about a gorilla. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpyTheFrog Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Oh, I thought she wanted you to write the book! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 No ideas, but that is a really sweet tradition! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Summer of the Monkeys. One of the all time greats of read alouds. I laughed, I cried, ds looked at me like I was a lunatic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenneinCA Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 My daughter suggests Dragon of the Lost Sea by Laurence Yep. One of the main characters is the monkey king. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Curious George books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Summer of the Monkeys. One of the all time greats of read alouds. I laughed, I cried, ds looked at me like I was a lunatic. Absolutely one of the best books ever! It was what I thought of first, Scarlett beat me to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Curious George books In the fourth grade? Fourth grade = aged 9 - 10. Besides, George doesn't have a tail, ergo, he's an ape, not a monkey. I'll tentatively second Dragon of the Lost Sea. Really, though, it's a toughie. I actually do know a fiction book with a main character who is a monkey, but it's not a middle grade book at all - Lovelock, by Orson Scott Card and Kathryn H. Kidd. It's not wildly inappropriate for children or anything like that, but I'm not sure she'd enjoy it much. A good deal of the book is taken up with the main character fretting about his owner's marital problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancingmama Posted November 7, 2015 Author Share Posted November 7, 2015 Thanks for the ideas. Last year it was a book about bananas. So I got her a Bananas in Pajamas book. She was 3rd so although young, I knew it would still make her laugh as she was still an early reader. Now she's firmly solid in reading so I want to get her something more appropriate. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancingmama Posted November 7, 2015 Author Share Posted November 7, 2015 Read the descriptions. Lovelock is definitely to mature for her but I think my hubs and I might enjoy it. I'm torn between Summer of the Monkeys and Dragon of the Lost Sea. I'm leaning towards Summer of the Monkeys and have her mom do a read aloud. My sis has mentioned she likes good read alouds and I think my niece would find this hilarious. Otoh, I think my Dd will love Dragon of the Seas. One and Only Ivan is floating around here somewhere. I think it may be too deep of a topic for her right now. Thanks again for the ideas! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 There is an Alexander McCall smith one for kids called "precious and the monkeys" although I haven't read it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Precious and the Monkeys would definitely be fun, and it's the first in a series - it's the children's prequel to The First Ladies' Detective Agency. It's a bit short and easy for a 3rd grader, but still fun. You could also try for a book about Hanuman the Hindu monkey god. We have a picture book that's lovely but there might be others for older children. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 In the fourth grade? Fourth grade = aged 9 - 10. Besides, George doesn't have a tail, ergo, he's an ape, not a monkey. I'll tentatively second Dragon of the Lost Sea. Really, though, it's a toughie. I actually do know a fiction book with a main character who is a monkey, but it's not a middle grade book at all - Lovelock, by Orson Scott Card and Kathryn H. Kidd. It's not wildly inappropriate for children or anything like that, but I'm not sure she'd enjoy it much. A good deal of the book is taken up with the main character fretting about his owner's marital problems. shrug My 9-10 year olds all loved Curious George. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Precious and the Monkeys would definitely be fun, and it's the first in a series - it's the children's prequel to The First Ladies' Detective Agency. It's a bit short and easy for a 3rd grader, but still fun. I haven't read this one, but I did read another in the series and it was very cute and very well-done. I think it would be fine for a third-grader. I read and enjoyed Summer of the Monkeys when I was in elementary school. However, I reread some of Wilson Rawls' book Where the Red Fern Grows a few years ago, and I was surprised and disappointed by his callous attitude towards animals. (For example, a cat in the story keeps getting caught and injured in traps intended for other animals. The cat finally runs away. This is supposed to be hilarious.) I vote for Precious and the Monkeys. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancingmama Posted November 7, 2015 Author Share Posted November 7, 2015 Thanks for all the suggestions! I'd never even heard of the The First Ladies Detective Agency. I'll take a look. I know she has read Curious George. I probably gave her a copy when she was smaller. I love his stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I've read or listened to the first several books in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series but haven't seen the books for younger readers. I love Precious! (As an aside, the HBO mini-series is great.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.