LGS & LACAS Class 1 – The Mean Monkey (Blue Band Reader) 2027-28

The Mean Monkey by Rachel DelaHaye, illustrated by Julian Mosedale, is a Blue band reader in the Cambridge Reading Adventures series. It is on the LGS Class 1 and LACAS Class 1 lists on this site. On the cover a grumpy brown monkey hugs a pile of orange coconuts among big green leaves. Every child knows what it feels like when someone will not share. This page is written for the 2027-28 session.

Exams Book House, Shop Number 4, Al Fazal Market, Urdu Bazar, Lahore, supplies it with cash on delivery across Pakistan and delivery to the Gulf countries.

Quick facts

• Title on the cover: The Mean Monkey · Cambridge Reading Adventures · Blue band · Rachel DelaHaye · Julian Mosedale
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Author and illustrator: Rachel DelaHaye (text) and Julian Mosedale (pictures)
• Band: Blue band
• Cover picture: a grumpy brown monkey hugging a pile of orange coconuts among big green leaves
• Characters: Babbo and Kamal
• Shown on: LGS Class 1 and LACAS Class 1, and in School Readers → Cambridge
• Session: 2027-28

What is this book?

According to the teaching notes, Babbo has found a tree full of coconuts and does not want to share them. Even Kamal's offer to help pick the coconuts does not change Babbo's mean attitude. Then Kamal's cunning plan leads to a much fairer way of sharing the coconuts, but does Babbo realise he has been tricked?

Paying attention to punctuation is the key to reading this story with the right expression, which is exactly the skill a Blue band reader is learning.

Words and sentences

The talk between Babbo and Kamal on page 3 uses speech punctuation, and the sentences vary in length for effect: short lines such as "Look at me" (page 2) and "This is my tree" (page 5). Longer words such as himself and coconut can be read by finding their parts, and there is plenty of practice with common words.

What a child can learn from it

• Notice and fix their own mistakes by rereading, to make sure the meaning and expression are right.
• Discuss the story to show they understand it.

A guided reading lesson to follow at home

• Ask: do you know what it is to be mean? Has anyone ever been mean to you?
• Read the title and the blurb. Look at Babbo holding the coconuts with a mean face.
• Say: in this story Babbo the monkey will not share the coconuts, even though he cannot eat them all himself.
• On pages 2 and 3, talk about how Babbo calls out to Kamal to show off. Break coconut into co-co-nut and read it a few times.
• On page 3, look at the speech punctuation: an exclamation mark does not always mean shouting.

Links beyond the book

For nature study, monkeys are mostly leaf eaters but many eat other foods too. Use books or a safe website to find out what monkeys in different places eat. For writing, ask your child to write a letter from Babbo to the other monkeys, saying sorry for being mean and promising to share in future. It is a lovely way to write with a purpose.

About the Blue band

Blue band is where reading starts to feel like reading: longer sentences, dialogue with speech punctuation and a growing bank of words the child knows by sight.

The Reading Adventures bands on this site

Cambridge Reading Adventures groups its readers into coloured bands, from the easiest to the hardest. Here is where this book sits, with the other readers on this site.

Why this book?

• A funny, well-built story about fairness and sharing.
• Great practice for reading with expression.
• A natural link to a letter-writing activity.

Who is it for, and when is it used?

It is for Class 1 children on the LGS and LACAS lists, about six years old. It is read at school in guided reading and at home as extra practice throughout the session. Ten minutes a night is plenty.

How to help at home

• Read Babbo's lines in a grumpy voice and Kamal's lines in a clever voice.
• Talk about a time when you shared something.
• Write a short apology letter from Babbo.
• Find the exclamation marks and decide how each should sound.
• Draw the coconut tree and label the monkeys.

Is it right for LGS Class 1 and LACAS Class 1 and session 2027-28?

On this site it is shown under LGS Class 1 and LACAS Class 1. If your school's 2027-28 list names The Mean Monkey, this is the book. Send us your list on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we can get for you.

Buy it in Urdu Bazar, Lahore

• Shop: Exams Book House, Shop Number 4, Al Fazal Market, Urdu Bazar, Lahore 54000
• Urdu Bazar Lahore book shop number: 0317 4846676 (call or WhatsApp)
• Open: Monday to Saturday, 9 AM – 9 PM; closed on Sunday
• Delivery: all over Pakistan with cash on delivery, and to the Gulf countries

People also search for this book as

the mean monkey cambridge reading adventures · lgs class 1 reader · lacas class 1 reader · rachel delahaye the mean monkey · blue band reader class 1 · دی مین منکی

Frequently asked questions

What is the lesson of the story?

That sharing is fairer and kinder, and that cleverness can help solve a problem.

Who illustrated it?

Julian Mosedale is credited on the cover.

What band is it?

Blue band.

Who is the clever one?

Kamal, with his cunning plan.

Is it on the LGS Class 1 and LACAS Class 1 list for 2027-28?

It is shown there on this site. Send your school list on WhatsApp so we can confirm.

Do you deliver outside Lahore?

Yes, all over Pakistan with cash on delivery, and to the Gulf countries. WhatsApp 0317 4846676.

Inside the book — contents and sample pages