Genre - FICTIONSummary – Monkey Magic is about a young girl, Romy, who travels to Borneo with her dad, who is a scientist. She is told that the orangutans in the Mukada Nature Reserve are suffering from a sickness due to overcrowding. Because of Romy’s interest in nature, she knows that there is something else going on. Romy also discovers a secret power she has that helps her dig deep into the mystery surrounding the orangutans. You’ll have to read the book to find out just what Romy discovers within herself, and for the orangutans.
Teaching Points – The Monkey Magic book series is a great, fun, adventurous book collection o use in a classroom that discusses how the action of humans can affect the earth and its inhabitants, like the orangutans of Mukada National Reserve. The series also helps children realize that they can have an impact on the earth, just like the characters of these books, like Romy, have as told in the stories. This book would be most useful in a science classroom. Teachers can have students take on their own endangered animal and research what humans can do to help them. Students will become familiar with other animals like the orangutans and develop a personal sense of motivation to prevent animals from becoming endangered due to human actions.
Suggested Reading Level – Grade 4+
Additional Resources – There is an awesome resource available for this book located at the webpage created for the book, www.monkeymagicbook.com. This website provides information about the author, the book itself, and sequel, videos, conservation information, and even activities to use in school or with your own children.
Citation – Clark, G. (2009). Monkey magic: Curse of the mukada. Monsoon Books.
ISBN-10: 9810810776 / ISBN-13: 978-9810810771
