View source for Mungo Monkey to the Rescue by Lydia Monks

{{infobox2
|title=Mungo Monkey to the Rescue
|author=Lydia Monks
|reviewer=Sam Tyler
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=Mungo is back in another fun lift the flap adventure, but this time he is joining his Dad in a real adventure. 
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=14
|publisher=Egmont
|date=January 2016
|isbn=9781405278188
|website=http://www.lydiamonks.com/
|video=
|aznuk=1405278188
|aznus=1405278188
|cover=1405278188
}}

Fans of lift the flap books may have come across Mongo Monkey before as he has a series of adventures that always seem to entail lifting up some things and flapping others.  The interaction in the books is very enjoyable, but sometimes it feels like you are just following a monkey and his family around on a normal day.  Couldn't creator Lydia Monks combine this touch and feel element with a story that actually goes somewhere?  Perhaps Mungo's day out with his Dad will be key.

When previously meeting Mungo's Dad we have seen him in his civvies, either sitting in the house or going on a day trip via the train, but do you know what he does for a job?  Turns out that he is a Fire Fighter and when Mungo goes into work with him one day, a real adventure can begin; it is not all cleaning Fire Engines and making cups of tea, sometimes a rescue is required.

Over the previous Mungo books, Monks has created a solid set of lift the flap books that make great use of the interactivity. Part of the story will continue beneath the fold, so you have to look, if you want to get the most out of the book.  It is also great fun to touch and feel everything; lift the flap books are very popular around my house, but can take a bit of a battering, for this reason they are often better bought than borrowed – many of us have heard that tell-tale ripping sound coming from a Library book!

Monks has given ''Rescue'' a bright and jolly colour palette that makes it very attractive to toddlers and babies.  To add to this she has also given this particular outing for our monkey friend a storyline.  The story opens up gently, but later becomes quite exciting as Mungo goes out with his father in the Fire Engine to help with a rescue.  All of this is portrayed using the flaps; they work in conjunction with the story.

''Rescue'' by no means reinvents the wheel that the series has crafted, but does have an added something in terms of a story that actually goes somewhere.  Younger children will enjoy the bright colours, whilst toddlers will get a lot from looking beneath the flaps and a cool story about Fire Fighters.  With adventures like this, Mungo is likely to remain a favourite for some time to come.    

There are a few Mungo stories now available, so you can try [[Mungo Monkey goes on a Train by Lydia Monks]], or perhaps an alternative flip books takes your fancy?  Try [[What's In The Witch's Kitchen? by Nick Sharratt]] for some cheeky fun.

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