The Monkey with a Bright Blue Bottom

Product Information

The challenge now is to make the Lesula an iconic species that carries the message for conservation for all of Congo’s endangered fauna,” says John Hart. Children will very probably already know that zebras have stripes, and giraffes a sort of square pattern, but will they have heard of a spectacled bear? And if we’re finding new species of primates, then who knows how many new species of small mammals or lizards or insects, just to name a few, might be out there. He painted the leopard bright yellow to start with, but when the sleepy big cat gave a growl, the monkey got a fright, and jumped, splashing big dollops of black paint from the paint box onto the animal!

Species with small ranges like the lesula can move from vulnerable to seriously endangered over the course of just a few years. Steve Smallman has taken up writing his own stories after illustrating children’s books for over 30 years. In the beginning, when the world was new, a monkey was admiring all the brilliantly hued birds flying about. About the Author: Steve Smallman has taken up writing his own stories after illustrating children's books for over 30 years.A long time ago, at the dawn of the world, a mischievous monkey admires the brightly-colored birds around him and wonders why the rest of the animals look so drab in comparison. Come down the travelators, exit Sainsbury's, turn right and follow the pedestrianised walkway to Crown Walk and turn right - and Coles will be right in front of you.

It's a fun story, but to be on the safe side I'd keep it as a display book for storytime, not as one to read alound (though it would be good for that for a family or group who are alright with the butt talk). I love the ideas behind them like how the monkey got a fright after painting the Leopard yellow and jumps, splashing black drops from the paint box onto him. My 4 year old brings it to me weekly as one of our nightly books and my preschool class got quite the giggle when I read it for our lesson about mandrills. She didn't like taking baths, so reading this story and having the bath crayons got her into the tub to wash her bottom!

I liked the illustration style and the creative story which is sure to have children designing their own animal coats and patterns.

It transpired that the unusual monkey was well known to local people, but had never before been catalogued by scientists. Major discoveries like this are still possible, mainly thanks to dedicated field biologists like the Harts,” says Eric Sargis, professor of anthropology at Yale and a co-author of the paper. When the animals wake up they're not all entirely pleased about their new outfits, so they take revenge on monkey by painting his face and rear end in red and blue so he looks ridiculous.

The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. Read by Justin Fletcher (CBeebies Mr Tumble) and actress Sophie Thompson, this funny story is sure to delight toddlers everywhere.