Ed Vere
Puffin
Age 0-3 years
One monkey has a banana, and he is very pleased. Another monkey arrives very excited to see the banana. He wants some too. But the first monkey doesn’t want to share. The second monkey is very disappointed he pleads, he has a tantrum but in the end he realises the other monkey is waiting for him to say please. The first monkey gives him the banana –just to have a bite but the second monkey looks all set to eat it all! Eventually they find a solution.
An absolutely brilliant study in jealousy, sharing and politeness told through humorous illustrations, an excellent design and just two words.
Share the story
Read aloud
Before reading the book to your child look through it yourself and think about how you will read it – the more dramatic the better to show the desperation of the second monkey to eat the banana – there are lots of clues in the illustration and text design!
Read the story aloud adding actions perhaps when the monkey is beating the floor in frustration.
Join in
You could encourage two- and three-year-olds to join in as you read, shouting ‘banana’ and saying ‘please.’
Talk about the story
Spot the banana on each page
Talk about how the monkeys are feeling, read the illustrations together – the monkeys’ expressions and body language.
Talk about sharing – what would your child tell the monkeys?
Watch the story read aloud
Things to make and do
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