Can Monkey fill his bel - ly with delicious mangoes and escape Crocodile’s sharp teeth? Vibrant colors of India enhance the telling of this clas - sic trickster tale, with plenty of clever - ness and a sprinkling of mischief

MONKEY: A TRICKSTER TALE FROM INDIA is a classic Indian tale about a trickster monkey and a crocodile. McDermott's illustrations are bright and vivid with colors reminiscent of India. In the story, Crocodile tries to trap Monkey and eat him. But Monkey, the trickster, is able to outsmart Crocodile proving that sometimes brains can win over brawn. ( )

About a clever little Monkey who wants his mangoes and large not-so-clever crocodile who wants the monkeys heart.

This book was a fun read. I loved how the illustrations reflected the vibrant colors from India. Children will enjoy the suspenseful nature of this story. I also liked that at first, I thought Monkey was going to be giving the friendly Crocodile a hard time, but in fact Crocodile was the one trying to get Monkey. My favorite quote is when Monkey says, "Your teeth may be sharp, but your mind is dull." I believe the message of this book is that just because someone may be bigger or stronger than you does not mean that they have the smarts to out wit you. Children will learn to use the gifts and talents they do have instead of dwelling on what they don't have. ( )

I’ve always loved traditional literature, and this particular book is very light hearted and entertaining. The plot was full of suspense. I liked how on-edge it keeps the reader. The crocodile is persistent in trying to eat the monkey’s heart, but is never able to actually do so. The many failed attempts made by the crocodile kept the plot fluid. The story was paced well. Although it is a story that has been retold countless times, the author was able to write it in a way that made it its own version. The characters had the classic qualities of a trickster tale that truly captivated the audience. The message is by using your smarts and brain you can outsmart anyone. ( )