- Picture Books
- Ages 3–7
- Comedy
Monkeypig
Molly the monkey has a secret: she's actually a pig. When a suspicious monkey sets tests to root out the imposter, this deadpan, slapstick picture book turns out to be a hearty salute to being different.
- Best for3–7
- FormatPicture
- Length32 pp
- Read aloud~6 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Comedic
- Conversational
Tone
- Funny
- Silly
- Irreverent
- Warm
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Molly lives in the jungle with all the other monkeys, swinging and dancing and being gloriously silly in the treetops. But Molly has a secret: she isn't a monkey at all. She's a pig. When Norman grows suspicious that an imposter has snuck in among them, he sets everyone three tests of true monkey ability, from eating a banana correctly to swinging through the trees, and Molly fails every single one, spectacularly. But when it comes time to point the finger at the imposter, the monkeys' fingers don't point quite where you'd expect. Written and illustrated by Welsh cartoonist Huw Aaron, Monkeypig pairs wonderfully deadpan narration with loose, ebullient, laugh-out-loud artwork. It's a warm, very funny celebration of inclusiveness and belonging that gently makes the case that being different isn't a bug, it's a feature.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A picture book best for 3-7s as a read-aloud, with confident early readers enjoying it solo around 5-7. The visual comedy carries the youngest listeners while the deadpan wit rewards the grown-up reading it aloud.
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- Best fit · 3–7
- Read aloud · 3–7
- Independent · 5–7
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Laugh out loud
- Belonging
- Read aloud
Avoid if
- Wants calm bedtime
Particularly good for children who are…
- Making friends
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The daft monkey tests, Molly's spectacular banana-eating fails and the deadpan build-up to spotting the imposter are pure giggles. Kids love being in on the secret and cheering for a pig who's happiest just being herself.
- Trickery and cleverness
- Friendship and belonging
- The underdog winning
Why parents love it
Huw Aaron's dry narration and joyfully chaotic cartooning make this a genuine read-aloud winner that adults enjoy too. Beneath the silliness sits a warm, unpreachy message about difference and belonging that bears endless rereading.
- Shared humour
- Beautiful illustrations
About the author & illustrator
Huw Aaron.
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