Never Smile At A Monkey: And 17 Other Important Things To Remember (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
Jenkins’s signature cut-and-torn paper collages make the animals look three-dimensional, as if we could reach out and touch them. After reading this book — subtitled “and 17 other important things to remember” — you won’t reach out to any of these. Jenkins’s message is that real animals must be dealt with in ways that acknowledge how they behave. So, never smile at a monkey, who might take a show of teeth as aggression and respond with equal aggression. Never pet a platypus, never bother a blue-ringed octopus. The object is not to reduce the child reader to hiding under the bed and not coming out on a vacation, but to explain that animals’ behavior and their physical characteristics make sense in their world. We cannot assume the dominance of our values for gestures, touches and looks. They’re animals. Also provided are some good end-notes about the science behind the behaviors and references for further study. A very fun take on the usual animal book for kids. Jenkins tells kids what NOT to do around various animals (such as hang out around baby bear cubs cuz the mama might be just around the corner…or swim with squid…or smile at a monkey). The end matter is quite well done, offering more material on each animal as well as a kid-friendly bibliography for those who want more information.Note to my Creationist friends: there is a brief reference to millions of years in the end matter.
What do You think about Never Smile At A Monkey: And 17 Other Important Things To Remember (2009)?
this is an ALL Noble book. fun facts most of us don't know, or really care to know. Fun read.
—rodney
Plays on a child's fears--not sure I would recommend this one.
—lpee
...not for the child that is faint at heart.
—Richard
