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Monkey Business
From a fish opening a "can of worms" to a tap-dancing octopus putting his "best foot forward," these familiar idioms are re-imagined by award-winner Wallace Edwards in hilarious and unexpected ways.
To help readers "stay on the ball," the idioms are used in a sentence that accompanies each illustration, and the meaning of each idiom is explained at the end of the book. Every page is so richly illustrated that it is sometimes a challenge to find the hidden monkeys --- some are more easily spotted than others!
A playful introduction to idioms, a clever eye-spy book and a gallery of stunning animal portraits, this collection is more fun than a barrel of monkeys!
To help readers "stay on the ball," the idioms are used in a sentence that accompanies each illustration, and the meaning of each idiom is explained at the end of the book. Every page is so richly illustrated that it is sometimes a challenge to find the hidden monkeys --- some are more easily spotted than others!
A playful introduction to idioms, a clever eye-spy book and a gallery of stunning animal portraits, this collection is more fun than a barrel of monkeys!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2004
About the author
Wallace Edwards
43 books21 followersWallace Edwards was a Canadian children’s author and illustrator whose imagination transformed the world of animals and strange creatures for a generation of children. His illustrations don’t condescend to children, they engage the imagination on multiple levels, blending childhood whimsy with adult sophistication.
A Canadian illustrator and writer who won the 2002 Governor General's Award for his first children's book Alphabeasts., Edwards was also the recipient of a multitude of awards and short lists, the Gold Medal from ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award, and the Children’s Choice Award from the International Reading Association for Alphabeasts; the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, The Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, the Children’s Choice Award from the International Reading Association for Monkey Business; the Canadian Library Association’s Honour for Mixed Beasts; and the Junior Library Guild Award for The Cat’s Pajamas.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Edwards was a graduate of the Ontario College of Art, and his work can be found in numerous public and private collections. He has also worked widely with Metro Toronto Zoo, the City of Toronto, the B.C. Ministry of the Environment, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, and various magazines.
On October 16, 2007, Wallace Edwards was nominated for the Governor General's Award for illustrating The Painted Circus. To date, Edwards has both written and illustrated fifteen published books, of which three have been nominated for this, Canada's most prestigious literary award.
His art has been described as “Curious and witty, sophisticated and highly original in approach…” resulting in work which is “visually pleasing as well as mentally stimulating” (taken from the Canada Council for the Arts web site). His children’s books have been reviewed in the Quill and Quire, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Macleans, the Christian Science Monitor, the National Post, the Detroit Free Press, the Chicago Tribune, the LA Times, the Washington Post, and the School Library Journal, among others.
Edwards was also a pioneering artist in virtual and augmented reality. In 2013 he was the Canada Council supported Artist-in-Residence at York University's Future Cinema Lab where he first began to create augmented and immersive materials. He has since gone on to create work in virtual and augmented reality exhibited at the international Electronic Literature Organization conferences in Portugal, Canada and Italy.
Edwards lived in Yarker, Ontario, Canada, and died on December 25, 2022, in Kingston, Ontario, at the age of 65.
A Canadian illustrator and writer who won the 2002 Governor General's Award for his first children's book Alphabeasts., Edwards was also the recipient of a multitude of awards and short lists, the Gold Medal from ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award, and the Children’s Choice Award from the International Reading Association for Alphabeasts; the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, The Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, the Children’s Choice Award from the International Reading Association for Monkey Business; the Canadian Library Association’s Honour for Mixed Beasts; and the Junior Library Guild Award for The Cat’s Pajamas.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Edwards was a graduate of the Ontario College of Art, and his work can be found in numerous public and private collections. He has also worked widely with Metro Toronto Zoo, the City of Toronto, the B.C. Ministry of the Environment, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, and various magazines.
On October 16, 2007, Wallace Edwards was nominated for the Governor General's Award for illustrating The Painted Circus. To date, Edwards has both written and illustrated fifteen published books, of which three have been nominated for this, Canada's most prestigious literary award.
His art has been described as “Curious and witty, sophisticated and highly original in approach…” resulting in work which is “visually pleasing as well as mentally stimulating” (taken from the Canada Council for the Arts web site). His children’s books have been reviewed in the Quill and Quire, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Macleans, the Christian Science Monitor, the National Post, the Detroit Free Press, the Chicago Tribune, the LA Times, the Washington Post, and the School Library Journal, among others.
Edwards was also a pioneering artist in virtual and augmented reality. In 2013 he was the Canada Council supported Artist-in-Residence at York University's Future Cinema Lab where he first began to create augmented and immersive materials. He has since gone on to create work in virtual and augmented reality exhibited at the international Electronic Literature Organization conferences in Portugal, Canada and Italy.
Edwards lived in Yarker, Ontario, Canada, and died on December 25, 2022, in Kingston, Ontario, at the age of 65.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 21, 2014
This book is awesome. Each page features a literal illustration of an English idiom, like "monkey business" or "rise to the occassion" or "sweet tooth." And every illustration includes a monkey, usually quite well hidden. There is so much to look at in every illustration. Between that and wrapping their little brains around idiomatic expressions they've probably heard but never thought about before, this isn't a book kids will get bored with any time soon. Oh, and it features a cricket named Gavin (illustrating "snug as a bug in a rug").
October 7, 2013
What a humorous and unexpected way to teach children about idioms! This picture book would be nothing without those wonderful illustrations. I really enjoyed it and I know that students would as well!
June 30, 2015
The art in this book is gorgeous.
October 17, 2019
A book of illustrated idioms. Reminds me of The King Who Rained.
July 22, 2017
This book is great for teaching idioms.
February 11, 2020
Going through it once to read the idioms and delight at the illustrations of the word play was fun. Going through it a second time to find all the hidden monkeys was even more fun. Beautiful.
November 14, 2021
#89 of 2021
Beautifully illustrated book. Clever way to teach idioms.
Beautifully illustrated book. Clever way to teach idioms.
June 22, 2023
I’d say picture book for older kids. 3rd grade and on to actually understand idioms. Beautiful book!
October 16, 2023
silly study break in a café
April 16, 2015
Personal reaction: I thought this book was really funny because of the way it took an idiom, created a sentence to put it into, and then had an illustration depicting the literal meaning of the sentence. The illustrations were what really helped the story get its meaning.
Purpose: This would be a great book to read aloud from to 2nd to 4th graders because of the way it introduces idioms in a fun and creative way. This book is not necessarily a story, but the pictures are all very similar and the book ties together nicely. Because of this, however, it might be a good idea to only read a page or two at a time and let them try to guess what the idiom is really talking about instead of its' literal translation. I also think this would be a great book to teach idioms with because at the back, it gives each idiom that was used throughout the book and translates it into its' true meaning. I think these kids would really get a laugh out of this book and enjoy learning about idioms in this way.
Purpose: This would be a great book to read aloud from to 2nd to 4th graders because of the way it introduces idioms in a fun and creative way. This book is not necessarily a story, but the pictures are all very similar and the book ties together nicely. Because of this, however, it might be a good idea to only read a page or two at a time and let them try to guess what the idiom is really talking about instead of its' literal translation. I also think this would be a great book to teach idioms with because at the back, it gives each idiom that was used throughout the book and translates it into its' true meaning. I think these kids would really get a laugh out of this book and enjoy learning about idioms in this way.
September 29, 2014
Wow, just wow! I am very impressed with both the illustrations and the written content of this picture book. The graphics are just stunning - so detailed, gorgeously shaded and colored, so fitting and well thought-out. Each one of them tells a story of its own. They are all meaningful and clever, and together with the commentary underneath, they are sure to entertain and amaze.
This book is about idioms. Each page features one idiom and invites your child to decipher its meaning. I absolutely love the way it engages your child's brain and imagination, being fun and didactic at the same time. Plus - this being a Monkey Business - there is a monkey hidden on every page, but you don't know this until the very end, so once you get to the last page, you immediately want to flip back to the beginning and read the book again, just so you can spot each hiding monkey!
This is definitely a keeper. Love it.
This book is about idioms. Each page features one idiom and invites your child to decipher its meaning. I absolutely love the way it engages your child's brain and imagination, being fun and didactic at the same time. Plus - this being a Monkey Business - there is a monkey hidden on every page, but you don't know this until the very end, so once you get to the last page, you immediately want to flip back to the beginning and read the book again, just so you can spot each hiding monkey!
This is definitely a keeper. Love it.
June 30, 2013
I love Graeme Base's books for children, so I was excited to find books in a similar style, by a Canadian author no less! Edwards seems to share my sense of humour, as this book takes common idioms ("playing by ear" is my favourite) and illustrates them with clever pictures. This isn't the kind of book that follows a storyline - nor is it meant to - but rather includes a caption with each individual picture. Probably not something that will capture the interest of a very small child, but clever, funny and beautifully realized.
November 20, 2013
I enjoyed Mr. Edwards creative interpretation of idioms in his art work and the art work itself. But the book was not that interesting to my kids. In fact, as I was reading it they asked, "when will it be over? I don't like it." We finished it, but just barely. At the end of the book he lists all the idioms he used and what they really mean which I enjoyed because now my kids know what "fish out of water," bull in a china shop," dog-eat-dog," and many more idioms mean.
August 3, 2007
Ever wonder what pops into puzzled little minds when you throw them a new expression? This clever book, cluttered with texture, humour and eccentricity, may have your answer.
Listen to our chat about this book on our JustOneMoreBook.com Children's Book Podcast:
http://www.justonemorebook.com/2007/0...
Listen to our chat about this book on our JustOneMoreBook.com Children's Book Podcast:
http://www.justonemorebook.com/2007/0...
June 6, 2011
Very clever. Be sure and look for a monkey on every page. Some of them are tricky. The illustrations are just fabulous, incredible and funny. I caught myself laughing out loud on several of them. I loved, "Willy seemed to attract misfortune, but Bill was a lucky duck." Now you have to look at the picture and see what made it so funny. Check it out at your local library.
May 22, 2009
Although my four-year old loved the pictures with a "find the monkey" spin, the real treat in this book was for me! The idioms were so well illustrated so beautifully and humorously that I wan't to tear the book apart and frame the pages for the nursery. Too bad it was a library book!
October 12, 2009
I just don't like this style of illustration, where it is so detailed, especially in the skin, that the animals look dirty. I'm not sure what age this book would appeal too, either. Not two year olds.
September 8, 2010
I used this book to teach the concept of idioms to my 3-5th graders. I thought it was a great way to show them this. They were more interested in finding the hidden illustration of a monkey on each page. However, the idea did seep into their brains by the end of the book.
April 5, 2024
How many times do we just throw idioms into our conversations without even thinking about how it may look if we convert them to illustrations??
This is what Monkey Business is all about!
Wonderful...
This is what Monkey Business is all about!
Wonderful...
June 19, 2008
Beautiful artwork!
July 6, 2008
Delightful! Marvelous illustrations. Obviously a book with fun illustrations but also great book for parents and teachers trying to explain idiom's to a child.
May 10, 2009
I am so jealous of Mr. Wallace Edwards art skills. He kills me!
August 31, 2009
Beautiful artwork based on fun to read idioms.
June 22, 2010
Ick. Rich illustrations, sure. But, no good without great writing or a good story.
Read
September 6, 2010A combination eye-spy, animal portraits, and a playful introduction to idioms. Full of fun and humor.
October 21, 2010
What a fun book of idioms! A wacky illustration accompanies each idiom showing that idioms don't make much sense when taken literally. The best part of this book is that the idioms are current!
September 16, 2013
A picture book for older readers who are ready to learn about idioms. At the back of the book are explanations of each idiom pictured in the book. I even found the monkey on every page!
August 21, 2014
With its astonishing pictures, this book is just a lot of fun to look at. Did you find the hidden monkey or ape on each page?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews