To my complete and utter horror, I found this flannel board in our storage room the other day, and was completely horrified. I haven’t been a storytime person for many, many years, and completely forgot about this set I made. I tossed it in utter horror and disgust during a recent flannel board purge.
Then this morning while searching for ideas for an interactive to make, I was dismayed to find this pattern all over the Flannel Friday pinterest account.
If you are considering making this flannel board: DON’T!
If you tell this story in your storytime: STOP!
Please stop.
JUST STOP! Tell a different story.
Don’t tell this story anymore. Anthropomorphized monkey characters are a racist trope in children’s literature. I am taking down this tutorial. I think every one of these flannel boards should be resigned to the dustbin of history, and they should never be presented in storytime every again. Look at this old, ugly, stupid book. It’s bad. The stain of this racist narrative device
In fact, go look at Sarah’s version at Read It Again! posted her awesome flannel board version of Pig’s Picnic by Keiko Kazsa.
More importantly read Edi Campbell’s brilliant blog. Particularly this one https://crazyquiltedi.blog/2018/07/20/monkey-business/. Then read every article link to this post. Then read Was the Cat in the Hat Black by Philip Nel.
And if you’re all pissed or indignant that I am slamming your favorite racist microaggressive storytime activity I really DGAF.
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October 30, 2011 at 7:40 pm
This is truly my favorite flannel. I’ve been saving it for a special Flannel Friday — ya beat me to it. I’ll post it in a few weeks… They’re different enough that it’s okay to share. I love telling the story and seeing the reaction of the kids when Monkey shares his picture with his mom. In fact, I went out and bought all the Folkmanis hand puppets to tell the story with more props. Haven’t done it yet, but I will!
October 31, 2011 at 1:17 pm
beat-schmeat! the more, the merrier!
October 29, 2011 at 1:47 pm
A more current version of this books is called Bread & Honey by Frank Asch, which features a bear instead of a monkey. A very funny read aloud to all youngsters.
October 30, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Thanks for the tip. We actually have a copy of this one in our readers.
October 29, 2011 at 10:46 am
WHY is this book out of print? I know another librarian who loves this story. Who do we have to talk to to get it reprinted? Such a shame. At least we have the flannel!
October 28, 2011 at 9:48 pm
Cate, I love this! I can’t wait to make it myself and use it for my Monkeys theme–I think the kids will find it hysterical 🙂
October 28, 2011 at 10:16 pm
awesome. I’m a little embarrassed about how messy the template is, but I had to do it quickly. Let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy.
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October 28, 2011 at 4:57 pm
I love the idea of making an out-of-print/hard-to-find book into a flannel!
October 28, 2011 at 5:32 pm
right? it’s great when you can get the book, but why fret if you can’t!
October 28, 2011 at 4:41 pm
I love your version, and thanks for the plug! I have done a draw and tell version of this with an elf, but I love the way the flannel looks much better.
October 28, 2011 at 5:37 pm
and thank you for the motivation. I’m such a chicken about draw-and-tells/cut-and-tells. i need to just suck it up, and do ’em already. after all, the whole point of this story is that it’s not a perfect likeness. If– i mean when i try this as a draw-and-tell i’ll make sure to snap a picture. i just hope it’s not too gruesome!