Monkey: A Trickster Tale from India (Trickster)

by Gerald McDermott (Author)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Series: Trickster

Monkey is hungry for the delicious mangoes on the island in the river, but he can't swim! How will he get there? Crocodile offers to carry Monkey across the water on his back, so Monkey hops aboard. Trouble is, Crocodile is hungry, too--for Monkey! Will clever Monkey come up with a way to get the mangoes and escape Crocodile's sharp teeth?

Master storyteller and artist Gerald McDermott brings the vibrant colors of India to his telling of this classic trickster tale, which has plenty of cleverness and a sprinkling of mischief.

Select format:
Paperback
$9.99

Find books about:

More books in the series - See All

Kirkus

The tale itself has just enough folkloric elements to convey action, character and setting without bogging down in detail.

ALA/Booklist

The lovely gouache-and-colored pencil artwork creates such nuanced texture that you nearly expect Pig-Boy's hide to feel fuzzy.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

K-Gr 3--McDermott has chosen well for the sixth and final volume in his trickster series. Monkey's tale, from the Buddhist tradition, is full of irony and attitude. Crocodile wants Monkey's heart, and he is sure he can get it through trickery. When Monkey needs a ride across the river to get mangoes, Crocodile is happy to provide the ride. More than once his weakness for the fruit just about does him in, but he repeatedly proves his cleverness and spunk. He tells Crocodile, "Your teeth may be sharp, but your mind is dull!" Playfully told with succinct text and illustrations, this tale will appeal to a wide audience. It is both simple and sophisticated with subtle and not-so-subtle levels of irony. The cut/torn paper illustrations are inseparable from the text. McDermott has incorporated several cultural elements into the artwork. The familiar paisley design (known throughout India as "raw mango") is found in the cover art and on the dedication page. The papers from India and Southeast Asia, and hand-colored by the artist, add depth, vibrancy, and texture to the text. An author's note traces the origins and history of the tale and artwork. Once again McDermott proves his visual and storytelling mastery.--Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Gerald McDermott

Caldecott Medalist Gerald McDermott's illustrated books and animated films have brought him international recognition. He is highly regarded for his culturally diverse works inspired by traditional African and Japanese folktales, hero tales of the Pueblos, and the archetypal mythology of Egypt, Greece, and Rome. It was his fascination with the imagery of African folklore that led him to the story of Anansi the Spider. McDermott was born in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Cass Technical High School, where he was awarded a National Scholastic Scholarship to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Once in New York, he began to produce and direct a series of animated films on mythology in consultation with renowned mythologist Joseph Campbell. These films became the basis for McDermott's first picture books. Among his many honors and awards are the Caldecott Medal for Arrow to the Sun, a Pueblo myth, and Caldecott honors for Anansi the Spider: A Tale from Ashanti and Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest. In addition, McDermott is Primary Education Program Director for the Joseph Campbell Foundation.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780152165963
Lexile Measure
530
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Clarion Books
Publication date
May 20, 2011
Series
Trickster
BISAC categories
JUV002020 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Apes, Monkeys, etc.
JUV002010 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Alligators & Crocodiles
Library of Congress categories
Folklore
India
Monkeys
Crocodiles
Parents Choice Awards (Spring) (2008-Up)
Recommended 2011 - 2011

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!