Jess and George are two monkeys who live on neighboring islands, and they think it would be a great idea to get together for banana milkshakes. But they have a problem--hungry sharks are swimming between the islands, and there’s no way for George and Jess to get around them! No matter what they try, from flying with banana-tree leaf wings to digging a tunnel under the water, George and Jess keep hearing the chant of the hungry sharks: “Yummy, yummy! Food for my tummy!” Finally, Jess and George realize that all they need to do is sit down and think about the problem, and it solves itself!

Lexile: AD 680 Accelerated Reader: 76680

This is the story of two monkeys that live on neighboring islands and their struggle to get together for banana milkshakes and coconut cake without being eaten by hungry sharks that are swimming between the islands. The reader is drawn into the characters’ feelings, frustrations, process of problem-solving skills, and determination as they try to solve their problem. At the end, the lesson to be learned is to be patient in order to think things through and that two heads are really better than one. Children will enjoy this book. It is brightly illustrated, easy-to-handle, and the print is appropriate for its targeted grade level.

 

I highly recommend this book as it lends itself as a supplement for language arts, especially oral language development, science, math and social studies. It lends itself to open-ended questions and higher order thinking skills. —Rebecca Puentes

 

March 2005, Heart of Texas Literature Center

PreS-Grade 2 – Two chimpanzees are interested in becoming acquainted with one another. However, Coconut Island, Jess's home, and Banana Island, George's home, are separated by the sea, which is filled with sharks that swim along and sing, "Yummy, yummy! Food for my tummy!" The two monkeys systematically develop plans to thwart the predators, but are unsuccessful until the lovely island trees accommodate their needs in a most remarkable way. —Andrea Tarr, Corona Public Library, CA 

 

July 2004, School Library Journal

As parents know, young children love interactive books with a repeated phrase they can anticipate and say along with the story. In this yummy tale, the shark-infested water surrounding two engaging chimps provides that perfect opportunity for the picture-book set.

 

 Chimps Jess and George are stranded on small sandy islands a short distance apart. The chimps just want to get together for a banana milkshake and coconut cake but the sea between them is filled with leering, hungry sharks, who shout, “Yummy, yummy! Food for my tummy!”

 

 The poor chimps don’t have many resources, but they are enterprising. George makes wings from his banana tree so he can fly for a visit. The sharks are clearly elated. This is a wonderful opportunity. Heads rise from the sea and as a chorus, singing and snapping at George’s “little chimp toes,” sharks offer their refrain.

 

 Brave Jess tries a tunnel, but the sharks hear the digging. By now, young listeners will be waiting to chant along as the chimps try various ideas, some sillier than others.

 

 Even a plan to try to scare the sharks fails as George, dressed as a woman wearing coconuts and palm leaves (much like the wonderful scene in the musical "South Pacific"), jumps out from behind a tree. The sharks, however, find his costume “very funny and laughed until their bellies ached.” 

 

 All does end well for the chimps when a new plan takes an unexpected twist, actually of treetops, and they are able to thwart the sharks, and have their party.

 

 The author, who lives in Brighton, England, writes and illustrates children’s books; she won the Sainsbury Baby Book award for Happy Dog Sad Dog, and is the author of Whose Tail?, Super Sid, and 3,2,1 Bedtime, published initially by Little Tiger Press in England.

 

 The illustrator, who also grew up in England, has created artwork for a number of children’s books, including The Crunching Munching Caterpillar, The Very Lazy Ladybug, and The Very Sleepy Sloth. The pages of this latest creation are as colorful as a tropical sunset. They are striking with orange sand, lapis lazuli waters, and coral skies. The chimps are animated and appealing as they face off with their encircling enemy.

 

 There is food for thought dished up with the fun: it takes perseverance and creativity to reach goals. Friendship is worth fighting for, even if life’s waters are filled with sharks. The messages, however, are tangential, just a tasty little garnish. —Linda Salisbury

 

May/June 2004, ForeWord Magazine