The little monkey lives happily and peaceably in his fig tree near the banks of a river. In the river there lives a crocodile man with his wife. Because the crocodile woman desperately wants to get a hold of the monkey's heart, her husband sets out to capture the monkey and tricks him away from the fig tree -- but the monkey uses another trick to escape again.
Anja Mikolajetz tells her version of this folktale from Myanmar about jealousy, envy, social co-existence and the powerful effects of one's own decisions. The moral of the story is divided into three parts, according to the fate of the three figures. While the crocodile couple are driven into lonely isolation on account of their jealousy and stupidity, the monkey remains a cheerful jester as he swings from branch to branch.
Mikolajetz draws in a simple and clear artistic style. Thick, expressive lines outline the figures and their surroundings on each of the two-page diptychs. Thanks to this clear simplicity the book makes pleasurable viewing for young children, while the text can also inspire reflection in those who have already learned to read.
Nominated for the 2016 German Children’s Literature Award