Recommended for: Primary Years (K-3rd), Intermediate Years (4th-8th)

• Summer of the Monkeys Book Study with weekly lesson plans, recipes, and more
• Summer of the Monkeys Book Report Template
• Summer of the Monkeys Extension Book List
• Multimedia Reference Materials links
• Book Club Meet-up Guide

Overview of Summer of the Monkeys

Fourteen-year-old Jay Berry Lee is walking through the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma in search of a lost cow when he encounters a tree full of monkeys. When Jay learns from his grandpa that the monkeys have escaped from a traveling circus, and there’s a big reward for the person who finds and returns them, he is thrust into a story of heart, humor, and excitement.

Jay sets off, determined to catch the monkeys, as he has his eye on a pony and a hunting gun. By the end of the summer, Jay will have learned a lot more than he bargained for—and not just about monkeys.

As you immerse yourself in the story, journey back in time and learn about the Civil War and Clara Barton, transportation in the late 1800s, and the history of the circus in America. Explore nature study as you learn about sycamore trees, chimpanzees, and fairy rings. Pack your bags and travel to Cherokee Nation and the Ozark Mountains.

Themes covered in this study

• Cherokee Nation
• Trail of Tears
• Transportation in the 1800s
• Samuel Morse and the Telegraph
• Chimpanzees and Monkeys vs. Apes
• Ozark Mountains
• Sycamore Trees
• American Red Cross and Clara Barton
• Circus History
• Horses and Ponies
• Fairy Rings
• Compassion and Empathy
• Perseverance

Book Disclaimer

We encourage parents to review all literature selections in advance to ensure they align with your family’s values and age levels. For a detailed content overview, click here to read the Parent Guide Review on Common Sense Media.