Parents' Guide to

Maggie's Monkeys

By Patricia Tauzer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Sweet tale of love and imagination for preschoolers.

Book Linda Sanders-Wells Picture Book 2009
Maggie's Monkeys Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

When Maggie discovers that pink monkeys are living in her family's refrigerator, her mom and dad go along with her imaginary world, but her brother has a harder time with it. Finally, when some of his friends come over, he comes over to her side and sees why his parents have done so all along.

Is It Any Good?

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

Pink monkeys living in the refrigerator...what could be more ridiculous! Still, with its rather dreamy, softly-edged illustrations, this sweet and tender story will strike a chord with anyone who has had to deal with someone else's imaginary world, or has had one of their own.

Parents and kids will enjoy the silly things the family does to help manage the pink monkeys. They'll agree with the older brother who knows what is real and doesn't quite get why everyone else is going along with the fantasy, and they'll cheer when the brother stands up to his friends. All in all, this is a fun book, even though believing that a family of pink polar monkeys might actually move into the refrigerator is quite a stretch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the pink monkeys living in Maggie's refrigerator. Do you think they could really exist? Why did her parents go along with her imagination? What did her brother think? How did his friends react? Why did he change his mind when his friends came over? What do you think? What would you say to Maggie?

Book Details

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