Little Monkey Calms Down

Little Monkey Calms Down is one of the few books that our energetic 20-month-old granddaughter will sit still long enough for us to read to her! A simple, sweet, storyline that she can relate to. A great opening to talk about ways she can manage her toddler-size sad-angry feelings.

Ok, I actually really, really love this book. However, that being said, some of the strategies mentioned are not exactly as useful as I'd hoped for my son. So I purchased this as a reading support for our son, who is 5, non-verbal, and has some more specialized needs. We've been working on helping him to habituate strategies for self calming that don't involve self harming. This book came today. So, little monkey's ice cream falls off his cone and he is upset. Super, super upset. Like, dramatically "ka-boom!" kind of upset...just like our little man gets. So I loved that. I loved that the word structure is simple, it makes it easier for a child who has language delays or processing issues to relate to quicker, although for our son, his receptive language is actually functioning at a much higher level then his expressive. But I think the simplified sentences helped him get into it more. He actually looked at it the first time I read it...I think probably because he could relate to the problem (having himself just lost part of his popsicle today in a similar manner) and the level of upsetedness shown by little monkey. The illustrations really over emphasize the expressions, which is perfect for a kiddo with Autism who may struggle to get more subtle cues, like my little dude. The first thing it suggests little monkey try is cuddle a blanket. My son actually went and grabbed one of his soft snuggly pillows and squeezed it after I read it, so I loved that, I'm actually super excited and about ready to pass out from the happiness that reaction caused. The rest of the suggestions are a little trickier for a special needs kiddo and may need parental embellishment to tailor them. So little monkey tries taking a breath, singing a quite song, laying down and being quiet. So, my kiddo can take a deep breath if prompted, but he doesn't find that calming. He can't sing songs himself independently yet, so that's a stage that would need assistance from us, and I want him to feel like calming is in his power. I did sing to him a song during that part, because I want to keep him engaged in that book, but yah, I prefer to emphasize other strategies for him. And for the laying down part, little monkey is shown holding a spinning windmill type toy, so that's where I adlibbed and said "or spin on your chair, or bounce on your ball," etc. because those are suggestions that would actually be more effective for my son. Honestly, I'm just over the moon because of how he internalized suggestion number one. I think this book has a lot of merits and is super cute, but all of the suggestions may not work for every child, but I think the overall message that calming down is in his control comes through, and I love it. Totally, totally love it!

Little Monkey Calms Down has proven to be a gem in our collection of children's books. My daughter adores this delightful tale, and I couldn't be more pleased with the positive impact it has had on her emotional understanding. The story skillfully navigates the journey of Little Monkey as he learns to manage and soothe his negative emotions. The relatable narrative and charming illustrations captivated my daughter's attention, making the learning experience both enjoyable and impactful. This book has not only become a bedtime favorite but has also become an invaluable tool in teaching my child essential skills in emotional intelligence.

Great little book to read to your little one my grandson loved it.

This book is cute and my kids enjoy it- but I do find myself explaining it a bit more as the words don't really explain what's happening and I don't think it's particularly obvious for a toddler. But good for giving them strategies for calming.

Cute story. Grand kids loved it. Not sure hoe much it helped with finding ways to calm my grandson when he got angry, but it didn't hurt. He was only 3 when I got him the book. He is 5 now and with age he is learning to control his emotions better.

This book is great for getting my little guy to calm down and take a breath when he’s amped up. He loves it and asks to read it a few times.

A great little book for teaching emotional regulation. My three year old with autism really took to this book and it is a great way to introduce how to self regulate, take deep breaths, etc. We have been using this book since age two.

The little ones love this book. It helps them calm down when I remind them of Little monkey when they feel stressed

These sturdy book collection is great for kids 1-4 years old. My kid is 5 and still likes to read it sometimes. Some books are funny like poop books and pony brushes his teeth. Good picture and easy to read and follow for toddlers. Good beginner reading material. It also talks about self regulation which is a key milestone at 3-5 years old. I am very happy I bought them.

La nostra bambina di un anno e mezzo lo adora. È ormai il suo libro preferito e... FUNZIONA! La aiuta molto nel gestirsi nelle piccole frustrazioni.

Such a simple but effective book for toddlers. Short sentences that are easy to understand and helps them learn coping techniques. Must have for a toddler.

I think this collection of books are amazing. My child has not been born yet and I am already reading this book with a funny voice. I really like the message you find underneath: calming down, breathing, accepting the fact of having a bad day. I want my kid to acquire these values and I will complete my collection. They may be shortish but will be enough as we end up repeating the same story again and again and they will have to finally read them by themselves. I will start when my baby is a baby and continue until he ignores them. I do not want to give them away, I really want to keep them. I love these books.