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Little Monkey Calms Down
Little Monkey is having a bad day. After a major melt down, he goes to his room and uses some coping techniques to calm down.
22 pages, Board Book
First published November 1, 2014
About the author
Michael Dahl
621 books144 followersMichael Dahl is the author of over 100 children's books. Some of his most popular series are Finnegan Zwake, Library of Doom, and Dragonblood. He resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a haunted house.
He also writes under aliases Chris Carey, Rick Thomas, and Mark Ziegler.
He also writes under aliases Chris Carey, Rick Thomas, and Mark Ziegler.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
April 11, 2020
A super short book, very few words but a good way of getting really, really young children to learn some mindful techniques.
April 13, 2017
It's a self-help book, yes. For all ages, yes. But it's more than that - it's *funny.* You have got to see the spread illustrating a temper tantrum.
Great companion to Scaredy Squirrel.
Now we just need one that gives us tools to cope with a blue funk. Do you have any suggestions?
Great companion to Scaredy Squirrel.
Now we just need one that gives us tools to cope with a blue funk. Do you have any suggestions?
March 23, 2020
Fantastic book for exploring emotions and how best to cope with them. This would be perfect for younger readers to understand that it is ok to be upset but we all need to find ways of dealing with our feelings. I also think it could benefit some older children too as a point of discussion in a PHSE lesson perhaps.
Shelved as 'childrens-books'
January 10, 2022Super cute!
March 25, 2020
This book has little words however I think it would be great to read to a child when they are upset and need to calm down. The child will hopefully begin to enjoy the story as it goes on and hopefully follow the same pattern of emotions that the monkey does - with being calm by the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2022
Rating: 5 leaves out of 5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Story: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre: Children/ Board book
Type: Book
Worth?: Yes
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Story: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre: Children/ Board book
Type: Book
Worth?: Yes
September 13, 2016
So cute!
June 5, 2019
A brief look at dealing with anger. Full of handy phrases for anyone caught in the crossfire of a tantrum.
March 25, 2021
Title (italicize): Little Monkey Calms Down
Author: Michael Dahi
Illustrator (if separate from the author): Oriol Vida
Genre: fiction
Theme(s): Dealing with negative emotions and ways to cope with those emotions for young children
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text): “Poor little monkey”.
Brief Book Summary (2-3 sentences in your own words): The little monkey drops his ice cream and is very upset about it. Monkey deals with his anger/sadness by taking deep breaths, singing, being still, and cuddling with a blankie. The book shows lots of ways to calm down for a child when they are feeling upset.
Response to Two Professional Reviews (3-4 sentences in your own words): Capstone mentions that book is an effective way of teaching coping skills to young learners. Walking Brain Cells comments on how the book provides a proper model for children to listen to and understand. Both reviews agree that the book has a strong message that very young children can understand and take away from after reading.
Tell Me Framework (4 sentences in your own words):
Like(s): The repetition of the phrase “calm down little monkey”, and when the other monkeys hug the little monkey in the end.
Dislike(s): If I could change anything, I would add another character that has dialogue so that the monkey is not alone.
Patterns(s): “Calm down little monkey” is repeated on almost every page.
Puzzle(s): What is the little monkey's favorite way to calm down?
Consideration of Instructional Application (3-4 sentences in your own words): This book can be used to introduce a lesson on emotions. I think using a prop monkey toy or puppet of some sort to connect with the book and with the children would keep them engaged. This way they can all connect with this character and feel comfortable talking about their own feelings. Drawing would be a good outlet to allow the students to express their emotions through art.
Author: Michael Dahi
Illustrator (if separate from the author): Oriol Vida
Genre: fiction
Theme(s): Dealing with negative emotions and ways to cope with those emotions for young children
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text): “Poor little monkey”.
Brief Book Summary (2-3 sentences in your own words): The little monkey drops his ice cream and is very upset about it. Monkey deals with his anger/sadness by taking deep breaths, singing, being still, and cuddling with a blankie. The book shows lots of ways to calm down for a child when they are feeling upset.
Response to Two Professional Reviews (3-4 sentences in your own words): Capstone mentions that book is an effective way of teaching coping skills to young learners. Walking Brain Cells comments on how the book provides a proper model for children to listen to and understand. Both reviews agree that the book has a strong message that very young children can understand and take away from after reading.
Tell Me Framework (4 sentences in your own words):
Like(s): The repetition of the phrase “calm down little monkey”, and when the other monkeys hug the little monkey in the end.
Dislike(s): If I could change anything, I would add another character that has dialogue so that the monkey is not alone.
Patterns(s): “Calm down little monkey” is repeated on almost every page.
Puzzle(s): What is the little monkey's favorite way to calm down?
Consideration of Instructional Application (3-4 sentences in your own words): This book can be used to introduce a lesson on emotions. I think using a prop monkey toy or puppet of some sort to connect with the book and with the children would keep them engaged. This way they can all connect with this character and feel comfortable talking about their own feelings. Drawing would be a good outlet to allow the students to express their emotions through art.
November 11, 2019
Okay, you know how I feel about the Hello Genius books, so we can skip the fawning.
Book publishers, please, more board books in this larger format. The kids love it, the parents love it, they last longer. I promise I'll buy them all if you make them.
I love a book for kids about managing emotions. I also love when the action items are embedded in the story and avoid lecturing children on what they should do. Little Monkey has a hard time navigating his feelings, so his parents give him ideas on how to refocus, including deep breathing, singing songs, taking a moment to himself. The illustrations of Little Monkey doing those things are cute, and also helpful for children who need to know what taking a beat looks like in practice.
A great read along and reference point for little humans learning how to exist in the world.
Book publishers, please, more board books in this larger format. The kids love it, the parents love it, they last longer. I promise I'll buy them all if you make them.
I love a book for kids about managing emotions. I also love when the action items are embedded in the story and avoid lecturing children on what they should do. Little Monkey has a hard time navigating his feelings, so his parents give him ideas on how to refocus, including deep breathing, singing songs, taking a moment to himself. The illustrations of Little Monkey doing those things are cute, and also helpful for children who need to know what taking a beat looks like in practice.
A great read along and reference point for little humans learning how to exist in the world.
April 28, 2019
Little Monkey Calms down by Michael Dahl is a short story that talks about the various ways that Little Monkey deals with an upsetting situation. I think that this book would be a great way to teach very young children (2 to 4 years old) positive ways in which they can manage their very big emotions. Self-regulation is a very important skill to have in the classroom and in life in general, so I think that this story is a great way to introduce these strategies to children who have not yet entered a formal school environment.
October 24, 2017
A lovely book that is really relatable for the young reader. It's almost a self-help book, and although predominantly for the young reader it is a great lesson for all ages. It would be great for children as when they have their terrible tantrums they could think back to this book and try some of the techniques monkey uses. Reading the book, you really feel that you are there with monkey, feeling all the same things as monkey, but you really feel happy towards the end. A great first book.
February 24, 2018
I LOVE this book! I’m probably going to end up buying it. Rosemary enjoyed the colorful illustrations and the monkeys, while I enjoyed the words. It teaches kids that being upset is okay and here are some strategies to calm down. “It’s okay to cry” Taking a breath, and focus on something are just a few of the strategies.
This book is great for parents of toddlers or any early childhood classroom! Put it in your take a break area.
This book is great for parents of toddlers or any early childhood classroom! Put it in your take a break area.
June 3, 2020
Alice and I have read this book every night for probably six months.
It’s a remarkable book, because it (1) helps children understand a challenging part of life, namely frustration and anger; (2) creates a vocabulary that parents and children can use to discuss that part of life; and (3) introduces tools that parents and children can use together to cope.
I can’t even count the number of times Alice has been frustrated and we have been able to recognize the frustration together - 小猴子哭了, and then talk through singing a quiet song, taking a deep breath, or being still and relaxing (one of alices first sentences!).
I also use these tools with Alice when I am upset, which I think helps her recognize that the emotions she is feeling are common to other people as well.
I just love this book and am so grateful the authors have provided such an accessible and wise contribution to our family.
It’s a remarkable book, because it (1) helps children understand a challenging part of life, namely frustration and anger; (2) creates a vocabulary that parents and children can use to discuss that part of life; and (3) introduces tools that parents and children can use together to cope.
I can’t even count the number of times Alice has been frustrated and we have been able to recognize the frustration together - 小猴子哭了, and then talk through singing a quiet song, taking a deep breath, or being still and relaxing (one of alices first sentences!).
I also use these tools with Alice when I am upset, which I think helps her recognize that the emotions she is feeling are common to other people as well.
I just love this book and am so grateful the authors have provided such an accessible and wise contribution to our family.
May 21, 2020
Great for toddlers!
I work with two year olds. This was a great story that had simple text, colorful pictures and emotions every toddler can relate to. It gave good ideas, in a very simple way, of different techniques to calm your emotions when you feel out of control. I highly recommend it for parents or teachers of toddlers.
I work with two year olds. This was a great story that had simple text, colorful pictures and emotions every toddler can relate to. It gave good ideas, in a very simple way, of different techniques to calm your emotions when you feel out of control. I highly recommend it for parents or teachers of toddlers.
October 18, 2017
Aww monkey
My child real this as an independent read and loved the ways money calmed down. She realized she could use the same techniques to calm herself down in overwhelming moments too!
My child real this as an independent read and loved the ways money calmed down. She realized she could use the same techniques to calm herself down in overwhelming moments too!
March 28, 2019
think it would be great for themes involving monkeys, calming down, having fun, emotions, think it would work best for toddlers, could use for babies maybe? maybe preschool, if you ask questions, like have you ever felt like that? cute pictures too.
March 23, 2020
Yes it is a nice book to read to my four-year-old daughter thank you
This is a great story to read them out for you and all the other day just you thank you to read a story for me thank you bye! I love monkey story
This is a great story to read them out for you and all the other day just you thank you to read a story for me thank you bye! I love monkey story
Read
January 28, 2021Minimal is an understatement
There's nothing to see here! This "book" is about three pages long, literally just repeats the title. It is not a story, nor does it teach anyone anything. This is the literary equivalent of buying a cake and being served a grain of flour.
There's nothing to see here! This "book" is about three pages long, literally just repeats the title. It is not a story, nor does it teach anyone anything. This is the literary equivalent of buying a cake and being served a grain of flour.
March 26, 2021
A very simple but nice well-being story for FS or year 1 children. The monkey used lots of different techniques to help him calm himself down. Would be good to read to children and practise these approaches so they have strategies when they are feeling upset or angry.
September 2, 2021
ok I suppose
Read this to my baby, I suppose it’s more aimed at children who can read themselves due to the very simple language but as a primary school teacher I didn’t think it was anything special
Read this to my baby, I suppose it’s more aimed at children who can read themselves due to the very simple language but as a primary school teacher I didn’t think it was anything special
February 8, 2022
این کتاب توسط نشر کتاب پارک ترجمه و منتشر شده است.
خیلی ساده و متناسب با کودکان نوپا، نحوه مواجهه با ناراحتی را به آنها آموزش می دهد.
عاشقش هستم. چون پسرم دو ساله ام میمون کوچولوی ناراحت و غرغرو رو ناز میکند، با او آهنگ میخواند، نفس عمق میکشد و بتویش را بغل می کند :)))
خیلی ساده و متناسب با کودکان نوپا، نحوه مواجهه با ناراحتی را به آنها آموزش می دهد.
عاشقش هستم. چون پسرم دو ساله ام میمون کوچولوی ناراحت و غرغرو رو ناز میکند، با او آهنگ میخواند، نفس عمق میکشد و بتویش را بغل می کند :)))
August 20, 2023
Cute idea. But I dislike the constant message of telling little monkey to calm down. It's mixed messaging telling a kid that it's OK to feel their feelings while at the same time telling them to calm down.
November 18, 2024
I really like this book for use in a classroom because it teaches kids skills for calming themselves down without being over their heads or being condescending. It includes practical examples and helps them visualize what's being talked about.
December 27, 2017
Starting to learn how to breath and relax. Colorful and beautiful pictures, great idea and important message for parents and toddlers :)
September 5, 2017
My 2.5-year-old loves this book.
October 25, 2017
My son liked curiously running his pointer finger along the monkeys tail.
October 27, 2017
How little monkey calms down
This book is about a ice cream and how little monkey calms down. Little monkey does calm down. Its a good book.
This book is about a ice cream and how little monkey calms down. Little monkey does calm down. Its a good book.
January 14, 2018
Loved the concepts. Loved the format. Loved that my child would listen. A great book for very young children learning better ways to react than anger.
February 12, 2018
Good kids book
My 5 year old daughter loved the book, as she could relate to the monkey. And it helped her to calm down.
My 5 year old daughter loved the book, as she could relate to the monkey. And it helped her to calm down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews