MONKEY BUSINESS

On your way home from the zoo, pick up this anthology of lively folktales, proverbs and fun facts about the world’s monkeys and their relationship to people. Highlighting stories and information from Africa and Madagascar (with a full description of lemurs, monkey ancestors saved from extinction on this island), the Americas and Asia, the author energetically retells stories from famous sources including the Indian Ramayana, and the Mayan Popul Voh, as well as pourquoi stories, such as the West African fable explaining “Why a Monkey’s Not a Man.” Climo sometimes adapts the tales, specifying certain types of monkeys (always citing reasons), and she includes an extensive, annotated bibliography. The colored-pencil and watercolor illustrations are full of action. A playful collection that can inspire a classroom unit, a storyteller or a child interested in animal lore. (Folklore. 8-11)