Never smile at a monkey by Steve Jenkins

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenkins, Steve. 2009.  Never smile at a monkey: and 17 other important things to remember. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.  ISBN 978-0-618-966202



SUMMARY
Steve Jenkins has written another gorgeous picture book with Never smile at a monkey. Using his distinctive cut and torn paper collage, Jenkins' book contains brief, yet informative information on 18 different animals and how they protect themselves from danger.  It also contains a "further reading" section at the end of the book. The book can be used for independent or one-on-one reading, but it's also a perfect read-aloud that kids of all ages will enjoy.



CRITICAL ANALYSIS 
Using a similar format to his Actual Size series, Jenkins' large illustrations of eighteen animals contain fun alliterative rules (NEVER cuddle a cub, NEVER pet a platypus) before offering brief information on how the creature protects itself.   In the back of the book, Jenkins' uses smaller illustrations with the animal in its defensive stance or showing the particular part of the animal that is dangerous. More details about the animals are offered, for example, where they live, what they eat, and its size.  The book contains the right balance of information; enough to feel informed, yet curious enough to want to learn more. The "further reading" section offers additional books about dangerous animals.

Visually stunning, the illustrations use Jenkins well-known style of cut and torn paper collages and are amazingly accurate.  The illustrations are large - one animal to a page, or, on occasion using both pages, offering ample white space which allows the illustrations to pop and to draw your focus.  My eyes were drawn to the dangerous spikes of the electric caterpillar and to the deceivingly adorable bear club. Children will enjoy looking at the pictures and learning more the animals. It's a great read-aloud and one that kids will rush to so they can view the cool pictures.



REVIEW EXCERPTS 
"A visually stunning book illustrated with cut paper and torn collages...This superlative illustrator has given children yet another work that educates and amazes."--School Library Journal 

"With his trademark cut-paper technique, Jenkins proves there may not be a texture that he can’t mimic on the page. The high-interest marriage of animals and danger, along with large, vibrant visuals, makes this a prime candidate for group sharing, and additional details and artwork at the end will flesh out some of the finer points for older children.--Booklist

[Monkey] takes the cheesy appeal of the dangerous-animals hook and makes it thoughtful and inventive without robbing it of its melodramatic charm. . . Crisp and clean detail particularly distinguishes this batch of Jenkins’ cut-out-collages, laid out with sharp edges against the white backgrounds, so the soft painterly striations and fibrous mottling stand out all the more."--Bulletin


CONNECTIONS
1. For students who enjoy Jenkins distinctive style, have a selection of his other books available:
     * Actual Size. ISBN 9780547512914
     * Prehistoric Actual Size. ISBN 9780618535781
     * Biggest, Strongest, Fastest. ISBN 9780395861363

2. Have students create an animal collage using cut and torn paper.

3. Using this book as an example, have students can create their own book theme; for example, "animals with a beak" or  "flowers that are blue."

4.  Have students discuss other animal defenses; for example, a cat uses its claws and teeth, while an alligator whips its tail. Students can write the examples down on post it notes and display around the room with their animal collages.