The Legend of Captain Monkey Reader by Marsha Prybutok
Mother and I were sitting at the top of a Camu-camu tree
Eating up the berries, delicious as could be.
The sky began to darken as we looked out at the sea
At the edge of the Brazilian rainforest that was home to Mom and me.
My tummy full, I could see the clouds begin to thicken,
A storm was coming upon us and my heart began to quicken.
Our lofty perch began to quiver and we were really being shaken.
“Jump down quickly,” Mother said, “before we’re over-taken.”
The wind howled and giant raindrops fell.
Just as my feet hit the ground I could see the ocean swell.
Great waves were rising and creatures ran pell-mell.
Trying to get to safety, our fear we tried to quell.
We huddled together ‘neath the rainforest trees,
And waited for the rain to stop and for a calming of the breeze.
When all was quiet we ventured forth to see
A huge chest marooned on the sand, not too far from me.
Very carefully I approached the chest wondering what might be inside;
Pirate’s booty, diamonds, gold, oh what might this container hide?
The lid was held on with leather straps that had been tied,
And to get it opened I had to poke and pry.
I found not a king’s ransom — no riches were in there stored.
This chest was filled with books, maybe 500 or more.
There were big books and little books in varied colors galore;
Looking at all of them was quite a time-consuming chore.
The books were filled with words that I could not understand,
But I knew this find was important and carried the books to drier land.
Mother urged me to be careful and lent her sturdy hands.
When they were stacked in piles we tied them with grass bands.
These books must be important to have crossed the ocean blue.
I knew that I must tell my friend, the smartest creature that I knew.
She lived in the mountains and from her cave she had quite a view.
Ms. Librarianasaurus would know exactly what to do.
With my Mother’s blessing I set off that very day.
I took along three of the books to look at along the way.
The day was almost over, the sun was setting over the bay.
I found Ms. Librarianasaurus sitting on her porch eating cookies from a tray.
“How do you do my little friend?” is what she said to me.
“What brings you to my humble home just in time for tea?”
I told her of the chest I found, and showed her the books, all three.
She opened up her mouth so wide and let out with a wild, “Yipeee!”
“Ahh, my dear boy, do you know what you have here?”
Knowledge, information, words and dreams are found on these pages, everywhere.
I’ll teach you to decipher, but be careful not to tear.
This is important stuff that you’ve brought to me my dear.”
“It will be up to you to learn all that you possibly can,
And then to spread your knowledge to all the people of the land.
I will dub you Captain Monkey Reader and you will join my loyal band,
By telling all who’ll listen that reading is important, you will be giving me a hand.”
“If every person on this planet took time each day to read
This world might be a better place and not so much in need.
Folks would learn about each other and let their imaginations be freed;
To think of all the things they’d learn is quite exciting, indeed.”
“Captain Monkey Reader, as you go please sing to them this song.
It’s oh so pleasant and you must sing it loud and strong:”
If you like to read a lot
Well, we know just the thing
Join with Captain Monkey Reader
And have yourself a fling.
He’ll find you books on any subject
They’ll await you there
Sit down at your computer
And just pull up a chair.
Books about dinosaurs,
Frogs and snakes and bees
Even books on poetry
And how to cure a sneeze … Ha, Ha, Hachoo!
Anything you want to know
You can find at his website
So go to www.Monkeyreader.com
And behold a literary delight!