Monkey Fist

Monkey Fist is a recount by ten-year-old Travis Wilder who stows away in his dad’s wagon so he can go panning for gold.  Travis discovers that finding gold is easier than keeping it, but outsmarts pursuing bandits and brings home the prize: a nugget the size of a monkey fist.  The style is friendly and conversational.

The text is composed of a variety of sentence types.  Illustrations support the text but not all events are illustrated.  Bold face is used for emphasis.  The book concludes with a two-page spread that tells how to write a recount.

Some words may require clarification: mineral, sluice, grit, rowdy, ambush, flank.  Similes: lined up like ants, like a small potato, as mean as snakes.  Alliteration: shadowy shapes.

This title is from the Sails Literacy series. Hook readers and ignite their curiosity - over 700 levelled texts with bright, colourful, sophisticated designs.