More Monkey Business - Monkeys in Love?

Seven Spunky Monkeys
written by Jackie French Koller
illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
Laptime: toddler - early elementary
Story Circle: preschool - kindergarten

I should have posted this book on Valentines Day. It is the perfect Valentines read, cute but not mushy. Seven monkey friends go out to spend a week together doing spunky monkey things but as the week goes on each monkey succumbs to love leaving one monkey less each day. The story comes full circle when the monkeys meet again at the park. But this time it's seven spunky monkeys, seven spunky spouses and 7 busy babies. Friends and families together having an
"ape-solutely awesome" time.
Once again Koller and Munsinger pair up to give us a cleverly illustrated and rhyming read.
Use it to teach the days of the week and basic math skills.

I hope that you will enjoy these activities and leave your own activity idea in the comments section.

Laptime Activities
1. Sing the days of the week to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
The-ese are the days of the week. Let me sing them again.

2. Read the book one time through just for enjoyment's sake. Read the book again and this time count the spunky monkeys on each page. When one monkey leaves count the monkeys that are left, using math words, "six monkeys take away one monkey equals how many monkeys? Let's count and see." Have your child point to each monkey on the page as they count.

Story Circle Activities
1. Sing the days of the week to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
The-ese are the days of the week. Let me sing them again.

2. Give each child 21 counting blocks or some other manipulative that they can use to count with (pretzels work well, just don't eat them until the activity is over). Start out by lining up 7 counting blocks - these are the spunky monkeys. As you read the story have the class take one spunky monkey away each time a monkey falls in love and leaves the group. Say, "Seven monkeys take away (minus) one monkey equals 6 monkeys. Let's count them." When you get to zero monkeys have the class make three groups of seven counting blocks - 7 spunky monkeys, 7 spunky spouses and 7 busy babies. Add "7 spunky monkeys plus 7 spunky spouses equals how many monkey? Let's count and see." Count the monkeys. Then add "14 monkey parents plus 7 busy babies equals how many monkeys? Let's count and see." Count the monkeys together. You can also use this to teach early multiplication.