Little Lunch: The monkey bars by Danny Katz and Mitch Vane

The fourth I have read in the wonderful series of books by Danny Katz and Mitch Vanne first published to high acclaim in 2003 is just as funny and involving as the others, The school gate, The bubblers and The slide.

Set in a school playground at recess time, the fifteen minutes of respite from the classroom, the stories are full of drama, adventure and friendship.

This book, The monkey bars, contains three short stories, each about areas within a playground that children and teachers know well, the monkey bars, the bench beside the bin and the school shed. Each area is a scene where demarcation disputes sometime occur. Tamara hogs the money bars every recess time, stopping others from using it. When Melanie questions her a competition of who can hang on the longest begins. Melanie gives up, when the idea of her hanky sits in her mind, and Tamara elated at her win, does a more ingenious movement than usual, causing her to be very ill.  

Manny is eating a very large sandwich at the bench near the bin. It contains almost everything he can think of, and all the children stop and look, in awe of each piece of meat, fish and votable matter that enters his moth. But one thing puzzles them all, the small purple balls. Through his full mouth he says it is beetroot, but they hear beetroop and so the fun continues as they try out various ways fo saying this new vegetable. When Mrs Gonsha slips on the tomato, the sandwich flies through the air, and the beetroot does what beetroot is known for, it stains. 

Battie who dresses in a cape just like his hero, Batman, goes all the way in the last story when dress up day sees him arrive at school dressed as his favourite supehero, Batman. He is ready to emulate his hero and wants to help. He rushes around the school looking for someone in need but all to no avail until a small fluffy dog renders him helpless and Mrs Gonsha comes to his rescue.

Each of the three stories is full of humour and show incidents in the playground that are recognisable and familiar. A Little Lunch Bag rounds off the last few pages of the book and includes activities, games and puzzles to keep readers amused.

Themes: School, Friendship, Humour, Recess time.

Fran Knight