Eric GurneyCritiques

The text is just meh (written by William Nettleton, whose name is only mentioned in an acknowledgment), but Gurney's drawings are lovely and worth the price of the book.

The dancing, prancing monkey musicians drum and hum along as kids learn to identify their hands, fingers, and thumbs. Written in rollicking rhyme.

This book tries too hard to be clever and manages to cover a topic with lots of humor potential without being at all funny.

Perhaps I will like this when Audrey is older. Right now it just feels really freaking dumb and pointless. Even for a book about the explorations of hands and what they can do......yeah it left a lot to be desired.

Mx requested this multiple times. Odd and lacked a plot; M & D didn't like it so much. M&D gave away before Ms was old enough to tell us if he liked it or not.

Upon reading this book I was trying to figure out why this book was banned. It was a story of monkeys. They showed off their fingers, they played the drums and other instruments, and talked with friends. Why was this book banned? Apparently, someone thought that this book was associating African culture with monkeys. I don’t see this because the moneys do more than play drums, they also play banjos and fiddles. I don’t think African culture when I think banjos and fiddles. I think deep south and dueling banjos, and the Hatfields and McCoys comes more to mind. So, I do not see the connection of this story to African culture and do not feel it’s racist. HOWEVER, anyone who does feel that, has valid feelings, and I will not denigrate that. If someone feels that way, then yes, this is a problematic book. But should this book be banned… No.

It starts with one monkey, a drum, and a thumb. Then the fun begins with banging the drum with both hands. But it does not stop. A few more friends are joining with drums, and it becomes better. But then a lot more of the clan join with more exciting instruments, and the drums sound even better.
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We picked this book for its Suess-styled illustrations. The book can be a super fun song in a classroom while learning some tongue-twisting phrases. In addition, the pictures are bright and exciting for young readers.
Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins is a fun read-aloud rhyme that will make children dance and roll.

E likes the rhyming and drumming.

Illus. in full color. A madcap band of dancing, prancing monkeys explain hands, fingers, and thumbs to beginning readers. -- GoodReads

Illus. in full color. A madcap band of dancing, prancing monkeys explain hands, fingers, and thumbs to beginning readers. -- GoodReads
Easy-to-read rhyming text describes what can be done on a drum with hand, fingers, and thumb. -- Scholastic, Inc.

Too, too, catchy. Lots of fun to read and easy to memorize for little ones. And, hits that rare spot of the book that is okay gor grown-ups to read over and over, and over, again. Highly recommended.

This was mildly amusing, and entertained me for the time I was reading it. It is tongue in cheek, and actually relates the day to day life of my dog - more or less! Very quick read and a lightness of mood from my other book!

This is a fun book and quick and easy read for any cat lover. The book was originally published in 1962. The humor is dated by today's standards, but it is still quite enjoyable.½

This book can be used to demonstrate rhythm to students and how it can be used in literature.

In the story, the king tries to solve his mouse problem, but each solution brings a new set of increasingly more severe problems. In the end, the king talks to the mice and compromises with them. The overall theme is discussing problems to find a solution.

The story of the monkeys drumming differentiates between fingers and thumbs. The monkeys also play other musical instruments and drums of various shapes and sizes. Repetitive wording

This has had a spot on my bookshelf since I was 5 or 6 years old, when it was published.

Also a classic with a fantastic rhyming scheme.

a fun dr suess book that has a bunch of monkeys playing different drums
1 book

In my classroom, I know most students will love this book simply getting read to them. It keeps their attention, and they want more. I would ask my students to change the drum in the story to something else and then rewrite the story accordingly.

This is a great book for children learning about what their hands can do. It is also an easy read for beginning readers. This book shows students what all their hands can do and what is connected to their hands.

See my reviews with the individual titles.

I liked this book because of the rhyming aspect of it. the writing in the book is perfect for kindergarteners because there are not too many words but it is also rhyming which would keep the students attention. I have read this book to many little kids and the characters are perfect for students that do not always like to read. The characters are monkeys that play the drums and make a beat out of it. The main idea of this book I think is to help students that are just learning to read.

Minnie Mouse's cat is teased by alley cats.

Fairly humorless, and not half as cute as it seems to think it is.

Concept: D
Story: D
Characters: D
Dialog: D
Pacing: C
Cinematography: C
Special effects/design: B
Acting: C
Music: B

Enjoyment: C

GPA: 1.8/4½

I think this will be a fav with H who seems to like music.