FICTION

Monkey and Elephant and a Secret Birthday Surprise

by Carole Lexa SCHAEFER
illus. by Galia Bernstein. 48p. Candlewick. 2015. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9780763661311. LC 2014945454.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—Elephant and Monkey both have secrets. Monkey's secrets are that today is her birthday and she doesn't like birthdays. Unfortunately, Elephant's secret is that he cannot keep a secret. What could possibly go wrong? When Elephant's uncle introduces him to Clever Rat, a rodent who makes new party hats, Elephant has a hard time keeping his best friend's secret in check. In order to avoid spilling the beans, Elephant ends up orchestrating an "It's-Not-My-Birthday, New-Hat" party. Told in three short and easy-to-read chapters, this next installment in the series tells an amusing and approachable tale. The digital illustrations are colorful and lush and pair nicely with the large and bold font of the text.
VERDICT A solid choice for libraries looking to increase their early chapter book series collections.
Reviewed by Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI
In their fourth book, Monkey tells Elephant a secret: it's her birthday and she doesn't want anyone to know. Elephant's secret? He's terrible at keeping secrets. As the day goes on, it's harder for Elephant to stay quiet, but he finds a way to celebrate without spilling the beans. Newly independent readers will appreciate the expressive digital illustrations supporting the mildly entertaining story.
, Aug 01, 2015

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