A Tiny Brown Monkey on the Big Blue Earth (Big Blue Earth)

PreS-Gr 3-A tiny brown monkey swings through his jungle home. The next series of spreads depicts the small creature going about his daily routine as the scene zooms out, and he is shown high above a town where a bus packed with people is trundling its way to a big city. That big city is on the coast of a much larger continent, which is situated on Earth, a rotating planet in space. Though that small monkey knows his own home well, he may not ever realize the great expanse of the planet on which he finds himself. From the first moment, readers are plunged into a vibrant world of color and texture in this beautiful book. Illustrations rich in detail dominate every page of this story. The book's design highlights these riveting images, including end papers that educate readers about the geographic locations described in the text. Lovely, poetic phrases guide readers on a journey from the rain forest of Brazil into outer space, utilizing spare language that is highly accessible to young readers and reminds them that every small creature is part of a large and interconnected world. VERDICT Though it is designed for preschool and early elementary aged children, this book will be enjoyed by readers of all ages thanks to its thoughtful design and memorable presentation.-Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver Public Library