Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

In both comedic stories, Mr. Monkey gets into lots of trouble but ultimately prevails in his goals. The spare early-reader texts appear partially in speech bubbles. Mack's cartoony digital illustrations, a mix of vignettes and full spreads, help tell the stories and add elements of slapstick; Mr. Monkey and his antics take center stage, but there's notable effort at inclusion and multiculturalism in the human casts.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Some days, just making it to school is an accomplishment. In book two of Mack-s series, the lanky Mr. Monkey is invited to a school to perform his new trick: juggling with tennis rackets, an umbrella, and a suitcase. But en route to the school (after first forgetting to put on pants), Mr. Monkey encounters a car-crushing cow in the middle of the road and is forced to improvise a new means of transportation. Once at the school, he misplaces the props he needs to perform his trick and nervously stammers before the audience of kids, but his improvisational talents come in handy. Mack-s episodic story presentation and expressive physical comedy offer natural appeal for early readers. Ages 4-8. (July)

School Library Journal (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

PreS-Gr 1 Mr. Monkey learns a new trick and cannot wait to put on a show. He finally has the chance when a librarian invites him to perform for students at the local school, but he finds trouble along the way. What could possibly go wrong? Everything! It starts with Mr. Monkey gathering all the tools for his trick, but he forgets his clothes. He runs into a traffic jam, throws a cow that is in his path on top of his car, and has to walk through rain and mounds of snow, but that won't stop Mr. Monkey. While the students are anxiously waiting to see his new trick, Mr. Monkey is ready, but he has another problem. He has lost everything that he needs for his trick. Mr. Monkey thinks quickly and comes up with a plan that is a hit with the students. Hooray for Mr. Monkey! This series smartly uses large font, plenty of white space, simple text, and colorful digital illustrations; all perfect for early readers. VERDICT An action-packed story that is sure to be a favorite among young readers. Pete the Cat and Pigeon make roomMr. Monkey is in town! Nikitia Wilson, Queens Library, NY