Synopsis
When Little Monkey is frightened by the storm, he runs to his mother’s side. “Don’t worry,” she says. “There is always one safe place.” But when he’s left all alone, Little Monkey doesn’t know where to find that place. He searches all through the jungle — in a nest, on an island, in a cave — but none of the places are the right place. Tired, scared, and sad, Little Monkey wonders if he’ll ever find his one safe place ever again.
Susan Winter’s lovely watercolor illustrations complement the reassuring, lyrical text, making this an ideal bedtime read.
Barbara L. Talcroft - Children's Literature
Stories of reassurance abound in literature for the very young, since feeling safe and loved is so important to the earliest listeners; that way, there are always some books in print available to reassure. This gentle story, first published in Britain, tells of a baby monkey making a circular journey to find his "one safe place." In a pastel jungle full of bright birds and butterflies, Little Monkey climbs, swings from trees, and sleeps amid green leaves till a storm chases him home. Is it not enough that his mother cuddles and comforts him? Perhaps not—mother suggests that he find for himself the one safe refuge he will always have. During his search, Little Monkey encounters various hostile animals who cause him to move on; most are not too alarmingly portrayed in Winter's pale watercolors and leafy environments. The most frightening is a large green crocodile slanting across two pages with its open pink mouth displaying sharp white teeth. (If this were a real crocodile, the wily creature would have snapped up Little Monkey for lunch.) Still, he makes it home and finds his safe place in mother's loving arms, a satisfying if predictable ending. The active little monkey charms with his soft, furry body and his expressive eyes—young listeners and browsers will enjoy following him on his quest and identifying the wildlife he meets, but the best way to appreciate this monkey's tale would be to sit on someone's lap and end it with a hug. 2006 (orig. 2005), Frances Lincoln, Ages 2 to 5.