- Picture Books
- Ages 1–5
- Animals
Monkey and Me
Part of the Emily Gravett universeOpen the collection
A joyful, repetitive preschool picture book about a little girl and her toy monkey pretending to visit animals. Excellent for toddlers who like movement, guessing games, animals and joining in aloud.
- Best for1–5
- FormatPicture
- Length32 pp
- Read aloud~6 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Repetitive
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Funny
- Silly
- Warm
- Gentle
- Heartwarming
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
A little girl and her toy monkey set off to see animals, acting out each creature before the page reveals who they are visiting. The repeated 'Monkey and me, monkey and me...' refrain makes the book instantly join-in friendly, while the physical mimicry gives children something to do with their whole bodies as well as their voices. Emily Gravett's pencil-and-watercolour illustrations keep the focus on expression, movement and anticipation. This is one of her strongest books for the youngest readers because it is simple, patterned and playful without feeling flat. Children can guess the animal, copy the action and enjoy the final sleepy landing. It sits neatly in the early-years animal/read-aloud lane, especially for toddlers and preschoolers who respond to rhythm and repetition.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 1–5
- Read aloud · 1–5
- Independent · 4–6
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Bedtime
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
5 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Toddlers
- Animal guessing
- Repetition
- Movement reading
- Join in read aloud
Avoid if
- Wants complex plot
- Wants older picture book depth
- Prefers quiet static books
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Separation anxiety
- Starting nursery or preschool
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A bouncy, repetitive read-aloud about a girl and her toy monkey — made for joining in and guessing the next animal.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific delight is the join-in — a girl and her toy monkey acting out each animal before the page reveals who they're visiting, the rhythm pulling a toddler's whole body along. The Gravett for the under-fives who want to read with their feet.
- Animal companions
- Adventure and freedom
- Family belonging
Why parents love it
The Gravett at her most participatory — pencil-and-watercolour illustrations, repeated chant, animal mimicry on every page. Strong for the one-to-three shelf; the kind of book that lasts a year of bedtimes.
- Quick to read
- Bedtime appropriate
- Shared humour
- Beautiful illustrations
About the author & illustrator
Emily Gravett.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
Where you’ll find it
On these reading lists.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
- Bookshop.org ↗
- Waterstones ↗
- Amazon UK ↗
- Hive ↗
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