More of Monkey & Robot

January 1, 2014

K-Gr 2-Independent readers will identify with Monkey and Robot as the two buddies return in this romp filled with humor, kindness, and friendship. Divided into four stand-alone chapters, the stories provide kids with amusing antics of two unlikely pals as they plan for Halloween, enjoy a day at the beach, make a new friend, and figure out if it's time for breakfast or bedtime. Fun-loving, energetic, curious, and entertaining Monkey and wise, systematic, patient, and kind Robot are perfectly transparent with each other. Graphite pencil-and-ink drawings provide ample reading support with charming black-and-white illustrations. This story is ideal for children developing their own emotional intelligence and budding friendships.-Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2014
Monkey and Robot are back (Monkey & Robot, rev. 1/13) in four stories for new readers. Monkey continues to make a mess, and Robot patiently helps him fix things. First Monkey worries about what to be for Halloween. No one wants a repeat of last year when he went as a dentist and stuck his fingers into people's mouths. He ends up putting a pot on his head, pretending to be Robot (he wants to dress up as "something that everybody likes"). In the second chapter, Monkey and Robot are at the beach, but Robot can't go into the water, and Monkey won't go swimming without his friend. In the third, the two figure out the best use for a tire Monkey finds in the front yard. In the final story, Monkey is confused by the clock and unsure whether it is morning or nighttime. Catalanotto weaves humor into each easy-to-read story, inviting the reader to help Monkey with his confusionand to feel a little superior at the same time. It's unusual to see such clear personalities in a book for the very young, but Catalanotto has created two distinct and likable characters -- unlikely pals who understand each other. Black-and-white pencil illustrations that provide helpful visual cues and lots of easy-to-decode text fill each page, making this the perfect bridge to chapter books for new readers looking for the next book. robin l. smith

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)