Title: Maybe…
Author: Chris Haughton
Illustrator: Chris Haughton
Publisher: Walker Books
Genre: Children’s picture book
Book format: Hardback
Sweet Strawberries: 
Description: Mmm…mangoes! The monkeys want one. The problem is there are tigers around. Mmm…maybe they could just look at the mangoes? That’d be ok, right?
*Free copy provided by pulisher for review…
Review: This is such a funny story and with a great message too! Three little monkeys are sitting in a tree while their parent tells them to stay where they are, to not go near the mangoes because there are tigers about. But while waiting in the tree the three monkeys get hungry and they decide that maybe it’s okay to just look at the mangos. Once they check that there are no tigers about they decide that it’s not enough to look at the mangoes but maybe it’s okay to just take the one mango that’s so close to the tree. And then maybe a few more. But maybe the monkeys should be more careful, because maybe there are tigers about after all…
The hardback book is filled with thick matt pages of really colourful illustrations and text. I have loved every one of Chris Haughton’s picture books and this one is just as brilliant! The three monkeys constantly wonder if maybe they could just get a little closer to the mangoes, maybe have a bite, maybe more, but while the monkeys constantly push their luck, eventually danger does appear in the form of the tigers. I like how simple this story is and how the monkeys end up, hopefully, learning a valuable lesson, although the funny ending with a bit of a twist makes you wonder if they actually did!
The story is so fun and simple but is filled with some great repetition which kids will enjoy and although the story isn’t too complex it still carries and teaches an important lesson about the importance of listening to warnings and also that danger can sometimes be lurking even when you think it is safe. I like how this important message is wrapped into the story and how this can lead to some discussion with children on this topic too.
The illustrations are so amazing. I love Haughton’s use of colour in this book, the monkeys are a contrast to the bright reddish world of their jungle and I love how you can see the expression on their faces which are especially funny when they are wondering if maybe something will be okay. The illustrations also show the tigers well. I love how these cats look and especially how they are subtely visible in the background of some earlier pages which kids might enjoy trying to spot. The illustrations are all so engaging and simple and there’s even one special one whick I really love which requires you to turn the book on its side to view it properly! I think the illustrations alone will make children want to look at this book again and again, and coupled with the simple story and great messge about safety, it makes a great book for children to enjoy and one I’d recommend!
What do you think of this book and the colourful illustrations? Have you or your children read any other of Chris Haughton’s books? Let me know what you think in the comments below 🙂
The Strawberry Post 