• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 2
• Reading age: 3 to 7

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.

Heather Tekavec est tombée amoureuse de la littérature jeunesse alors qu'elle travaillait comme enseignante au préscolaire. Elle a publié neuf livres pour enfants. Heather vit à Cloverdale, en Colombie-Britannique.

Heather Tekavec first fell in love with children's literature while working as a preschool teacher. She has published nine books for children. Heather lives in Cloverdale, British Columbia.

Heather Tekavec's profile page

David Huyck is an award-winning illustrator, as well as a printmaker, a painter and a sculptor. He is the illustrator of Manners Are Not for Monkeys, That One Spooky Night and Wingmaker, as well as If Kids Ruled the World, which won both the Blue Spruce Award and the Shining Willow Award. He lives with his family in Northfield, Minnesota.

David Huyck's profile page

• Winner, Rainforest of Reading Readers' Choice Award, OneWorld Schoolhouse Foundation
• Winner, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre

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

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

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

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

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