Children's Book Review: The Laceyville Monkeys Say the Right Words

The Laceyville Monkeys is a charming, fun to read children's story about three performing monkeys and their owner/trainer. They are in Laceyville for the Big Talent Contest, but upon arriving in town and before heading to the contest, the owner, Hepzibah Mott, takes them to visit her Granny. Hepzibah tells Granny that you have to say the right words to make the monkeys perform. After watching them, Granny decides to pass the monkeys off as her own, since she has heard the words. She sneaks the monkeys out of the house as Hepzibah sleeps and takes them to the contest. When it is their turn, she shouts orders at them, and they don't perform. Hepzibah shows up to save the day by giving the same orders, but saying them nicely, with love.

The story was amusing and written in verse form so it was a lot of fun to read. The book is hardcover and the artwork is well down. The picture on the cover is indicative of the style. The author, Harriett Ruderman, says that this is the first in a series of books about Laceyville, a town her mother used to tell her about when spinning bedtime stories.

I'd like to thank the author, Harriett Ruderman and her publicist for sending me a complimentary review copy of this book.

I'd like to share a bit of it with you, since the way it is written was half the fun, for me:

• Eva was wearing a tutu of white with pink ballet slippers she looked quite the sight.
• Sheva's Tuxedo, suspenders and tie gave him a look that was handsome and sly
• Keva was dressed in red tights and a tank. We wore them well like a star of high rank.

To purchase from Amazon: The Laceyville Monkeys