Marla Frazee is fast becoming one of my top- of- the- list illustrators. This is a follow up from her previous book The Farmer and the Clown. The train comes to the country..I cannot say "town," because the train is cugging along throughout the lonely open fields.

In the previous book, the monkey was a rider on the train. Now, he is making a surprise visit. Previously when the clown visited from the train, he left his red pointed hat as a gift. It's clear the farmer misses the clown, and now opens the door to a cheeky little monkey who tips his hat own small hat to the farmer. So full of energy, the monkey has abudant talent for getting into trouble, including smashing the beloved hat left by the clown that the farmer prizes.

Out the door he goes with a pointed finger letting him know he isn't welcome. But, when the snow rapidly falls from the sky, the farmer looks out to see one little head with a hat on top and the body buried in a huge blanket of snow. And, the farmer takes pity and trudges through the heavy white stuff and brings him in to the fire where the monkey is warmed by a bath, a mug of hot beverage and a drum to play with two little sticks.

Placing the monkey in a basket on the floor near his bed, the large moon appears through the window and wham, wack, zip the monkey is full of energy as he jumps on the bed and pounds away on the drum.

Running outside, playing loud noise as he bangs and bangs scaring the cow and all the chickens as the farmer spills the bucket of milk and falls on his back.

I laughed at every single page. There are no words, only images that delight and entertains.

When the farmer finally gets the animals inside and settled, wham, bang, bang, band here comes the noisy. full-of-energy monkey who is smiling as he leads the way inside the farm house. He awaits the train as the farmer is fast asleep.

The the sun arises, the monkey excitedly pulls the farmer's arm to show that toot, toot, toot the circus train is approaching and the monkey is dressed with a basket on his back, a hat on his head and a drum in his arms. WHEW!!! He is gone and the exhausted cow, chickens and farmer are finally resting and sleeping.

I re-read this book with sheer delight and lauged out loud each time.

What a wonderful talent this illustrator possesses. Sheer joy from a bundle of monkeyy trouble and energy that the reader cannot help but love! ( )

Second in the Farmer trilogy.

The farmer's next visitor from the circus train is...a monkey! The farmer finds the monkey entertaining, until the monkey crushes the farmer's pointed red cap - the one that the clown left behind as a gift. But the two reconcile before the monkey returns to the circus train. ( )

More from Marla Frazee ... lots of emotional content ( )

Words aren't necessary to make this a read packed with giggles, surprises, gasps and heart-filled moments.

This is a book without words, and they are not necessary. The illustrations drive this book from beginning to end. I love books like this because it demonstrates how potent good illustrations can be. From the first page to the last, every moment sits and hits with its very own emotional impact. And it tells a wonderful story, too.

It's funny to watch the monkey follow the farmer, and this alone will have listeners giggling and wondering what will happen next. The 'plot' builds from page to page. It's clear what's going on, and yet, there's room for kids to allow their own stories to take flight in their imaginations. While the monkey follows and watches the farmer in the first pages, the reasoning behind the monkey's actions are left open to interpretation. It's a wonderful way to allow kids to take the first steps in their own story telling. Or even more importantly, it allows their own imaginations to work, wonder and take flight.

Still, this tale has clear messages and situations. The monkey's antics and the farmer's reactions remind of patience, forgiveness, and warming care. A friendship develops and yet, there's an ending, which calls for a chuckle, understanding, and even a little sigh of relief. It's a great tale, which invites to be read over and over again, and can easily become a favorite with some 'readers'. ( )