Do you have a toddler who is ever so slightly tempted to bend the rules at home every once in a while (all for a "good" reason, of course)? Then you will like the story of Monkey Bandit and the naughty ball! Monkey Bandit, much like any toddler, forgets about the rules. He knows he cannot play with a ball inside the house, but are bending over the ball or touching it with one finger considered "playing with the ball"? This colorfully illustrated, funny children's story will make babies and toddlers giggle at the misadventures of Monkey Bandit. But, as a powerful teaching tool, it allows parents and educators to start a very useful conversation about "bending the rules". For parents who like to discipline without yelling, rules without punishments, only consequences, reinforcing good behavior and reading with children. Efficient with strong-willed and "stubborn" children, as it addresses the topic of discipline and rules in a funny way, through a story and a character. Rules... rules at home... what are those exactly?! TOPICS: rules, discipline, kids, strong-willed, stubborn, misbehaving, behaviour, respect 5 Stars Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite Rules are rules and there are some very important rules all children need to follow. For example, playing with a ball inside the house is forbidden. Monkey Bandit knows this rule and, for the most part, he follows it. That is until one day, when looking for a banana, Monkey Bandit is intrigued by a ball. He examines it carefully, touches it lightly and laughs when it moves. He tries sitting on the ball, only to fall over and hurt himself. Now, he's angry with the ball. He gives it a swift kick and you can only imagine what happens next. And that's how Monkey Bandit gets himself into trouble. Maria Ellis's charming picture book story, Monkey Bandit and the Naughty Ball, will certainly entertain the very young. With colorful illustrations and a little bit of humor, children will appreciate the lesson that Monkey Bandit learned about his so-called naughty ball. Wasn't it really the naughty Monkey Bandit? After all, he did break one of the rules, the rule that states he must not play with balls inside the house. There are reasons for rules and Monkey Bandit had to learn the hard way what the reasoning was for the rule about balls in the house. This is a valuable teaching tool for very young children. Adults reading this story to the very young can certainly help children share things they have done that were naughty and why there are rules about certain things. Young children would certainly relate to Monkey Bandit as he learns the values behind the rule about balls in the house. Well done! A SHORT INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR Q: How did you get the idea for writing "Monkey Bandit and the Naughty Ball?" A: All of my ideas for children's books come, these days, from my son. He is almost three years old now and for the longest time, since he was a little baby really, he has loved playing with a ball. After he learned how to walk he wanted to kick the ball all the time but as he grew stronger, so did his kicks! So it was important to teach him that there is a rule about playing with a ball: we just don't do it inside the house, because we might knock something over or damage something. Sometimes children have the impression that adults are simply mean because they do not let them do certain things. I think it is important to explain that the rules are there for a reason - and usually a good one. But of course, explaining is one thing and seeing it is quite another. I was happy to create a story that could really illustrate this concept for my son. Q: How do you draw the illustrations for the book? A: First I do a sketch in pencil, then I draw the outline in charcoal and then I color it. I always make sure to test the illustrations with my son though. I knew Monkey Bandit would work for kids because he saw this little character on a piece of paper on my desk and asked me to draw more of him. "More monkey, mama! More monkey!" he would say. Q: Do you read your own children's books to your son when they are finished? A: Absolutely. He is my first reader and, as I said, my first tester.  Q: So what did your son say about The Naughty Ball? A: He thought it was funny - because the monkey is playing with a ball, because the monkey is falling, because the monkey gets scolded (and not him! haha)... He has read it many, many times now and still gets a kick out of it. Which, of course, gives me the greatest kick. Maria Ellis tells stories for children of all ages. A former teacher, she now writes and illustrates full-time. She lives in an enchanted forest close to Brussels in the chocolate-filled Kingdom of Belgium with her husband, her son and her daughter, surrounded by owls, ants and some very stubborn squirrels. Visit her Amazon Author Page and www.choupicos.com for the latest books, audiobooks, activity books and other materials.