Caps for Sale and the Mindful Monkeys

Reviewed by: Margy Soule - Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 13, 2017

Review

Caps for Sale and the Mindful Monkeys was published 15 years after the death of Esphyr Slobodkina. The information in the back of the book reports that Ann Marie Mulhearn Sayer and Slobodina lived and worked together for six years, and this book is based upon story ideas developed by both women. The classic stylized illustrations truly look like the work of Slobodkina with updated colors and an appealing larger size. The famous text patterns are here too including “Caps , caps or sale, 50 cents a cap” and “He looked to the right….” The plot has some of the charm of the original, but little of the humor. The monkeys are mindful as they carefully watch and learn how to make caps. Gone are the naughty little monkeys that listeners have enjoyed for over 70 years. The peddler gets a philosophical lesson in anger control from a wise old woman. She may be wise, but she is a bit preachy and her lesson will go over the heads of many listeners. It may be better to buy a fresh, clean copy of the original tale, unless you have a demand for books with a mindfulness theme.

Overall Book Score: fair