Good Crooks: Missing Monkey! by Mary Amato and Ward Jenkins
Source: Public Library Paperback, 128 pgs. I am an Amazon Affiliate
Good Crooks: Missing Monkey! by Mary Amato and Ward Jenkins is a story about kids whose parents are thieves, but they have other plans. Billy and Jillian Crook are happy to do good deeds, but one good deed lands them in hot water when their parents assume they are at the zoo to steal a monkey. Complete with funny lists of what taking care of a monkey is like, these two Crooks are sure to have kids reacting out loud -- whether that's with loud EWWs or laughter.
My daughter has been reading all summer, which is a plus given that last summer she flat out refused. We're now in a nighttime reading routine, which I hope to continue in the fall when school starts. With this one she read 2-3 chapters per night because she wanted to see what happened next. It took her a few chapters to get into the story, which is told from Billy's point of view. Razzle the monkey made the story even more funny, since he liked to cause mischief.
Good Crooks: Missing Monkey! by Mary Amato and Ward Jenkins is a delightful story with adventure, humor, and gross stuff that kids will relate to. There are a number of harder words that kids will have to sound out, but it is well worth the effort. There's also an underlying message about the power of doing good deeds not only for your own community, but for yourself too.
RATING: Quatrain