A parent might reach for this book when their child is frustrated by a friend who doesn't play fair or share. This classic Filipino fable, retold by Paul Galdone, tells the story of a patient Turtle and a greedy Monkey who find a banana tree. After they plant it, the selfish Monkey scrambles up and eats all the fruit himself. The clever Turtle, however, finds a way to outsmart the Monkey and teach him a memorable lesson about fairness. It’s an excellent choice for children ages 4 to 8 because it validates feelings of injustice and models how cleverness, not just strength, can solve problems. The story provides a great starting point for conversations about greed, friendship, and what it means to be fair.
The core of the story involves cheating, greed, and retaliatory justice. The turtle's revenge is physical (pricking the monkey), which is presented as a justified consequence. This is a secular folktale, so the morality is presented through action rather than explicit instruction. The resolution is hopeful for the protagonist, who uses her wits to escape a bully and return to her safe place.
Ideal Reader
A 5-7 year old who is rule-oriented and has recently experienced a playmate breaking the rules, taking their toys, or not sharing. This child feels powerless and frustrated by the injustice of it all and will delight in seeing the smaller, cleverer character win.
Parent Prep
Parents should preview the scene where Turtle plants sharp shells to hurt Monkey. This act of retaliation might need context. A parent can frame it as Turtle using her brain to teach Monkey a lesson about consequences, rather than simply as getting even. This can lead to a discussion about different ways to solve problems when someone is unfair. The parent hears their child say, "It's not fair! He won't share!" or witnesses their child being consistently outmaneuvered or taken advantage of by a more dominant or selfish friend.
Age Experience
A younger child (4-5) will likely see a simple, satisfying story of a mean monkey getting what he deserves. They'll focus on the action and the clear good guy vs. bad guy dynamic. An older child (6-8) can engage with the more complex themes. They might question the morality of Turtle's revenge and can discuss the ideas of fairness, consequences, and using your wits to overcome a physical disadvantage.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many contemporary books on fairness that advocate for telling an adult or using specific communication strategies, this fable champions self-reliance and cleverness. The protagonist solves her own problem through ingenuity, which can be very empowering for a child feeling helpless. It is a classic trickster tale, which offers a different problem-solving model than most modern social-emotional learning books.
Read plot summary
Turtle and Monkey find a banana tree floating in the river. They plant it together, agreeing to share. When the fruit ripens, the agile Monkey climbs the tree and eats all the bananas, mockingly throwing the peels down on Turtle. In response, Turtle cleverly plants sharp shells around the tree trunk. When Monkey climbs down, his feet are pricked. Enraged, Monkey tries to punish Turtle, who tricks him into throwing her into the river, her natural home, where she swims away to safety.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
When they first found the tree, Turtle and Monkey agreed to share it. Why do you think Monkey changed his mind and decided to eat all the bananas himself?
2
Turtle put sharp shells under the tree to poke Monkey's feet. What are some other things she could have done when she felt cheated?
3
At the very end, Monkey thinks he is punishing Turtle by throwing her in the river. Why was this a good thing for Turtle?
4
Have you ever felt like Turtle, where someone wasn't playing fair? What does that feel like?
5
Do you think Monkey will try to trick Turtle again? Why or why not?
