Monkey Music Time

I recently came across the book "Be Quiet, Mike!" by Leslie Patricelli and it immediately brought to mind other stories and craft ideas.

"Be Quiet, Mike!" is about a little monkey who was born tapping and drumming on everything he could get his hands on. He was always making noise and his family, neighbors, teachers, and classmates always responded to his drumming with a "Be Quiet, Mike!" One day, while walking with his pop, he comes across a music store where long haired ape was going wild on a drum set. Mike loved the drum set but couldn't buy one of his own. Instead, Mike makes his own drum set using recycled material like boxes and large empty water bottles. In the end his family cheers him on as he drums on his very impressive homemade drum set. This book has the rhymes, rhythm and sound to keep a preschooler interested from start to finish.

Other books with furry primate friends and music are: 

"Soon, Baboon, Soon" by Dave Horowitz. As the triangle player in the primate percussion band, Baboon has trouble waiting patiently for his turn.

"Cha, Cha, Chimps" by Julia Durango. Counting and dancing go hand in hand at Mambo Jamba's, the place where hippos hokey-pokey and meerkats macarena and ten little chimps do the cha-cha-cha, until Mama Chimp says, "Time for bed!"

  

"Sock Monkeys Do the Monkey Monkey" by William B. Winburn. Sock monkeys do a dance like the hokey pokey.

After reading these stories it would be great to get out the pots and pans and empty coffee cans and make noise! You can also add your own little creative touches by painting the cans or decorating found sticks from outside. It can also be a lot of fun to listen to the different sounds that different items can make. My favorite part of Mike's drum set is the set of chimes he makes with silverware. 

Hope you and your little ones have a great time monkeying around!

--Jennifer I., FV