The Monkey Puppet: A mystery that tackles sensitive issues

There’s something different about Mark, the new boy. It’s not just that he only speaks through a monkey glove puppet. Soon Daniel finds out that his new friend is in trouble – but can he help him in time?

• Sapphire/Band 16 books offer longer reads to develop children's sustained engagement with texts and are more complex syntactically.

•Storycards of the key events on pages 54 and 55 help children to recap what has happened.

• Text type: A mystery story

• Curriculum links: Citizenship: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation, Moving on

• This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader

Leon Rosselson is a singer/songwriter - a member of the Galliards in the early days of the folk revivial. He now writes songs for children and gives concerts both in the UK and USA. His first book for children, Rosa's Singing Grandfather was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 1991. He lives in Wembley Park, Middlesex.