As soon as they say good night to Mama, the five little monkeys begin to jump on their bed. But despite Mama's warnings, they fall off and hurt themselves. A sure-fire hit at story hour, this rhythmic romp is a counting lesson, too, as the five bouncy bed-jumpers bump their heads and get hauled off to the doctor one by one. Wonderful pencil and watercolour illustrations capture both the glee and the pratfalls of those misbehaving monkeys.

Don't Wake Up Mama!

by Eileen Christelow

Published 21 September 1992
Five little monkeys try to bake a cake for their mother's birthday without waking her up.

The five little monkeys and Mama are eager to get a new car. The five little monkeys clean and paint their old car until it sparkles like new. But who will buy it? Perhaps those clever monkeys can convince their cranky crocodile neighbours that what they really need is ...yes, a car! Children will love predicting how the five little monkeys will deal with each new challenge, making this a perfect story for interactive reading. Lively verse and Eileen Christelow's inimitably comic illustrations put the five little monkeys in the driver's seat in more ways than one.

When five little monkeys ask for something to do, cleaning the house for Grandma Bessie's visit isn't exactly what they had in mind. But leave it to those mischievous monkeys to find a way to make housework fun . . . and messy! Features Eileen Christelow's irresistible monkey art in a sturdy board book edition perfect for repeat readings.

In this sturdy board book, the five little monkeys wake up with the sun. Today is their mama's birthday, and they are going to bake a cake. They'll have to measure the flour and mix in the right number of eggs, and get it all into the oven in time for the birthday surprise - without waking up Mama! Eileen Christelow has created an original, high-energy romp, sure to delight any child who has tried to plan a surprise.

After their mama reads to them, it's bedtime for the Five Little Monkeys. But they can't resist reading just one more book...or three! Soon Mama is so tired of trying to get her monkeys to quiet down and go to sleep, she picks up their books and takes them with her. At last, the monkeys are ready to settle down...until they hear strange sounds from down the hall. Could it be that Mama likes to read in bed too? This playful addition to the Five Little Monkeys series features a lively rhymed verse and catchy refrain that's sure to keep young readers chanting along.