PreS-K-- The irrepressible crew from Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed (Clarion, 1989) returns in this version of a traditional hand rhyme. The familiar chant tells of five foolish monkeys who are eaten when they tease a hungry crocodile. Christelow chooses a more lighthearted approach, illustrating it in sunny-colored pastels outlined in ink. She places the rhyme in a picnic setting; while the mother dozes, the little monkeys scamper out on a limb and fearlessly call to a crocodile, ``You can't catch me!'' But the crocodile's jaws snap, and one by one the monkeys disappear. Bright patches of clothing and pairs of little eyes among the leaves will signal perceptive listeners that all is well. Children will enjoy being in on the secret that even the mother monkey, awakened by all the noise, doesn't know. In the upbeat ending, all the children pop out of their hiding places, safe and sound. Some readers may question why the mother snoozes, leaving her brood to look after themselves, or why she doesn't come to their aid when she thinks they are in danger. The intended audience, however, will overlook these lapses of logic as they delight in the mischief-making--a humorous exaggeration of their own antics. --Carey Ayres, Port Washington Public Library, NY

One by one, five little monkeys tease a crocodile and disappear while their mother naps. Hysteria reigns until the monkeys are discovered hiding in a tree. Mama hugs, then scolds. A rather pointless cumulative story.