Author | Julia Donaldson |
---|---|
Illustrator | Axel Scheffler |
Language | English, Arabic, Hebrew |
Series | None |
Genre | Children's |
Publisher | Macmillan |
Publication date | 2000 |
Publication place | United Kingdom |
Pages | 24 |
ISBN | 0-333-72001-6 |
OCLC | 43542394 |
Monkey Puzzle (in the United States of America, Where's My Mom?), written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, is an illustrated children's story book, published in 2000 by Alison Green Books. Donaldson dedicated the book to her cousin's children, Tom, Billy, Emma and Katie.
The narrative of "Monkey Puzzle" centers around a young monkey who becomes separated from her mother in the vast and dense jungle. Feeling lost and alone, the little monkey embarks on a quest to reunite with her beloved parent. Along her journey, she encounters a helpful butterfly who volunteers to assist her in the search.
The butterfly, though well-intentioned, frequently confuses different animals for the monkey's mother due to its misunderstanding of the descriptions provided by the monkey. The butterfly's suggestions include a diverse array of creatures such as an elephant, a snake, a spider, a parrot, a frog, and a bat. Despite the butterfly's best efforts, these misidentifications lead to humorous interactions and highlight the differences between various jungle inhabitants.
As the monkey and the butterfly continue their exploration, they eventually stumble upon the monkey's father. He affectionately calls the monkey, urging her to return home. Just as they are about to head home, the butterfly catches sight of the monkey's true mother. Reuniting with her mother fills the young monkey's heart with joy, ending her journey of discovery and separation.
The tale concludes on a heartwarming note, with the monkey and her mother embracing each other. The butterfly, having played a crucial role in their reunion, also shares in their happiness. This reinforces the importance of friendship, teamwork, and the enduring connection between loved ones.
"Monkey Puzzle" has gained widespread popularity among young readers and their caregivers due to its engaging storyline, captivating illustrations, and valuable life lessons. The book effectively explores themes of identity, family bonds, and the challenges of finding one's way in unfamiliar environments. With its relatable characters and whimsical narrative, the book has become a staple in children's literature.
Julia Donaldson, an acclaimed British author, is known for her knack for storytelling and her ability to craft enchanting tales that resonate with both children and adults. Collaborating with illustrator Axel Scheffler, she has created numerous beloved children's books, including the immensely successful "The Gruffalo" series.
Axel Scheffler's distinctive illustrations bring the characters and settings of "Monkey Puzzle" to life. His vibrant and expressive artwork adds depth to the story, making it an immersive experience for young readers.
Julia Donaldson dedicated "Monkey Puzzle" to her cousin's children, Tom, Billy, Emma, and Katie. This personal touch reflects the book's emphasis on the connections between families and the universal emotions experienced by children and their caregivers.
Monkey Puzzle may refer to:
The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter that follows mischievous and disobedient young Peter Rabbit as he gets into, and is chased around, the garden of Mr. McGregor. He escapes and returns home to his mother, who puts him to bed after offering him chamomile tea. The tale was written for five-year-old Noel Moore, the son of Potter's former governess, Annie Carter Moore, in 1893. It was revised and privately printed by Potter in 1901 after several publishers' rejections, but was printed in a trade edition by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1902. The book was a success, and multiple reprints were issued in the years immediately following its debut. It has been translated into 36 languages, and with 45 million copies sold it is one of the best-selling books in history.
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Julia Catherine Donaldson is an English writer and playwright, and the 2011–2013 Children's Laureate. She is best known for her popular rhyming stories for children, especially those illustrated by Axel Scheffler, which include The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and Stick Man. She originally wrote songs for children's television but has concentrated on writing books since the words of one of her songs, "A Squash and a Squeeze", were made into a children's book in 1993. Of her 184 published works, 64 are widely available in bookshops. The remaining 120 are intended for school use and include her Songbirds phonic reading scheme, which is part of the Oxford University Press's Oxford Reading Tree.
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The Fantastic Flying Journey is a 1987 children's adventure novel by Gerald Durrell. It is a story about three children and their great-uncle Lancelot travelling around the world in a hot air balloon. It was illustrated by Graham Percy and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. In 1989, Durrell published a sequel, The Fantastic Dinosaur Adventure.
The Gruffalo's Child is a British children's picture book by writer and playwright Julia Donaldson, and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. It is the bestselling sequel to The Gruffalo and won the 2005 National Book Awards Children's Book of the Year. The book has been adapted into theatrical productions since 2005 and was adapted into the 2011 animated film The Gruffalo's Child.
The Blue Peter Book Awards were a set of literary awards for children's books conferred by the BBC television programme Blue Peter. They were inaugurated in 2000 for books published in 1999 and 2000. The awards were managed by reading charity, BookTrust, from 2006 until the final award in 2022. From 2013 until the final award, there were two award categories: Best Story and Best Book with Facts.
Skim is a Canadian graphic novel written by Mariko Tamaki and drawn by Jillian Tamaki. Set in 1993, in a Toronto Catholic girls high school, it is about an outsider girl called Skim.
The Gruffalo is a 2009 animated fantasy short television film based on the 1999 picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
Magic Light Pictures Limited is a 2003 English independent film and television London-based production company. The company was founded by producers Martin Pope and Michael Rose.
The Snail and the Whale is a 2003 children's picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. It won the 2004 Early Years award for the best pre-school book, the 2005 Blue Peter award for Best Book to Read Aloud, and the 2007 Giverny award for Best Science Picture Book. The Snail and the Whale has also been adapted into an unabridged audiobook, a stage play and translated into British Sign Language. In 2019, a short film based on the book was released.
Stick Man, written by former Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, is a children's story about an anthropomorphic wooden stick who becomes separated from his family home and his Odyssey-like adventure to return there. He is eventually reunited with his family in the "family tree" as a result of his interaction with Father Christmas. It takes place in England.
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The Snail and the Whale is a 2019 British-South African short computer-animated TV film, directed by Max Lang and Daniel Snaddon, and produced by Michael Rose and Martin Pope of Magic Light Pictures, in association with Triggerfish Animation Studios where the film was animated.
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The Smeds and The Smoos is a 2022 British animated short film directed by Samantha Cutler and Daniel Snaddon. The film is the screen adaptation produced by Magic Light Pictures of the homonymous children's book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. The story follows two warring clans of aliens on their journey from prejudice and intolerance to kindness and friendship.