Monkey Puzzle
Written by: Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by: Axel Scheffler
MacMillan Children’s Books
Recommended for ages 2-6
$10.95

“I’ve lost my mum” is the opening line to this sweet tale of how a young monkey searches everywhere in the jungle for his mum. Butterfly tries her best to help Monkey. He gives her clue after clue of what she looks like but Butterfly just can’t seem to get it right. He tells her that his mum is bigger than him so Butterfly takes him to an elephant. He tells her his mum coils around trees so she takes him to a slithery snake. Then it’s off to the pond to see the frog. After all Monkey said his mum leaps about. After numerous failed attempts at finding his mum poor little monkey is getting frustrated and mentions to Butterfly that he and his mum look alike. This is not what Butterfly expects because she and her babies don’t like anything alike. With this all-important clue, Monkey is finally reunited with his Mum and Dad.

This endearing story set to a sing-song style is perfect for animal identification, prediction and rhyming. The bright illustrations with their hidden animal creatures are perfect for a seek-and-find game, as well.

Julia Donaldson is also the author of the Smarties Prize winner, The Gruffalo.