Maria Ellis

Monkey Bandit Eats with a Spoon Maria Ellis

Do you have a toddler who will not eat by him or herself - or has trouble eating alone because of a sensory difficulty disorder? Then you will like the story of Monkey Bandit who learns to eat with a spoon! Monkey Bandit does not know how to eat by himself, with a spoon. Yet. But he does like yummy soup. He tries to eat some with one finger, but that does not work. Next, he tries grabbing a handful of soup... that does not work. When he tries slurping the soup from the bowl, he burns himself and gets the soup all over the floor. Eating by yourself is not easy, is it...


Frustrated and angry, Monkey Bandit begins to cry. With the tears, he gets a few tastes of soup in his mouth. Oh, it is so very good... so he tries just one more time: he picks up the spoon, dips it in the soup and slowly takes it to his mouth. Yeey! At last, the third time is a charm: Monkey Bandit opens his mouth widely and has his first spoonful of soup, all by himself! This colorfully illustrated, funny children's story will amuse your toddler and help him eat by himself or herself.


It breaks down the steps of eating by yourself: holding the spoon, dipping it in the bowl of food, taking it to your mouth.


Great children's story for toddlers or kids who are learning to eat by themselves, it is also about the fact that learning a new skill requires determination and perseverance.

For children with a sensory processing disorder, this book will provide a visual guide to eating independently. Through humor and watching a little monkey eat by himself, your child will feel less pressured and more at ease with trying.