Two Little Monkeys (review)

In this lilting rhyming story, playful monkeys Cheeky and Chee hear something prowling in the tall grass and eventually decide to take cover in the "big old tree" nearby. Which turns out to be a good thing, since there's a leopard lurking at the base. The monkeys, deciding to put even more distance between them and the leopard, then bravely leap to another tree where they revel in their safety (and in the tree's tasty fruit). The meter of the short lines is catchy, and the simian antics will appeal to youngsters. The repetition, with all the lines ending in "ee" to rhyme with "Chee," rapidly grows tiresome, though, and it's not clear why the nearby big tree that was the first safe place turns out not to be safe enough. Pale blues, greens, and tans dominate the pencil and watercolor illustrations, while Cheeky and Chee are depicted as identical gray and white monkeys with expressive features and useful hands and feet; touches of humor, such as a monkey covering his own eyes to "hide" from the leopard, add cuddly charm. Listeners may appreciate the playful mood of these two little monkeys, and they'll certainly celebrate a safe escape and a tasty snack.