Parents' Guide to Baby Monkey, Private Eye

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Common Sense Media Review

Mary Eisenhart By Mary Eisenhart , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 4+

Sweet, silly pictures and story will delight early readers.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 4+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

One by one, unlikely characters come to the office of BABY MONKEY, PRIVATE EYE, wailing that someone has stolen their jewels. Their pizza. Their clown nose. Their spaceship. Time after time, Baby Monkey looks for clues, takes notes, has a snack, struggles to put on his pants, heads out the door, and quickly finds the ridiculous culprit. His last case wraps everything up sweetly and sends a message of love.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Early readers and older ones too will giggle their way through the silly adventures of the infant detective whose skill at solving crimes is matched only by his trouble getting his pants on properly. Author-illustrator Brian Selznick's collaboration with first-time kids' author David Serlin is a delight on every page with its humor, imagination, and kindness as it traces the short but eventful career of Baby Monkey, Private Eye.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the work of private investigators as shown in Baby Monkey, Private Eye. Have you heard any other stories about this kind of character? Does it sound like a fun line of work?

  • Why do you think the pictures on the wall and things like that in Baby Monkey's office keep changing?

  • Do you think having lots of pictures in a book like this one helps tell the story?

Book Details

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