Hello, my name is Ann Marie Mulhearn Sayer.
I have been performing musical narratives of Caps For Sale for many, many years.
During that time, I had the privilege of living and
working with the author Esphyr Slobodkina for seven of those years.
After the performances,
people always ask questions of us, what happened to the monkeys?
Where do the peddler go?
Esphyr and I thought about this and that is how More Caps For Sale was born.
I co-authored this and another book with Esphyr.
And I'd like to read More Caps For Sale for you today.
More Caps For Sale, Another Tale of Mischievous Monkeys
by Esphyr Slobodkina with Ann Marie Mulhearn Sayer.
Once there was a peddler who sold caps.
But he was not an ordinary peddler carrying his wares on his back.
He carried them on top of his head.
First he had on his own checked cap, then a bunch of gray caps,
then a bunch of brown caps, then a bunch of blue caps.
And on the very top, a bunch of red caps.
As the peddler traveled home that day,
he thought about the monkeys who had taken his caps.
It took so long to get them back.
He hadn't sold any caps, not even a red cap.
As he walked along, he did not look back.
He did not see the monkeys come down from the tree.
He did not see them following him.
Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot, all in step.
[MUSIC]
When the peddler got home, he was very hungry but he could not eat.
He was worried.
He had not sold any caps.
Then, he looked out of the window.
And what do you think he saw?
There in the tree behind his house, sat the monkeys, eating their supper.
Suddenly, the peddler was very hungry too.
He reached for his bowl and ate every drop.
After the peddler cleaned his plate, he went outside and looked at the monkeys.
You monkeys you, he said.
Shaking his finger at them, you must go home.
But the monkeys only shook their hands back at him and said [SOUND].
Then each monkey dropped a banana skin down to the ground.
The peddler was so upset, he could not speak.
He picked up a banana peel, walk to the trash barrel and threw it away.
He went into the house, slamming the door.
He did not see each monkey come down from the tree,
pick up a banana peel and throw it in the trash barrel too.
Those monkeys, the peddler thought.
They have followed me home, made a mess of my yard and today I have sold no caps.
He walked up and down the hall.
He walked so much, that soon it was time for bed.
But the peddler could not sleep.
He turned on his right side.
No sleep.
He turned on his left side.
No sleep.
He lay on his back.
No sleep.
He lay on his tummy.
No sleep.
Then he looked out of the window into the tree.
And what do you think you saw?
On every branch sat a monkey, falling asleep so
peacefully, that the peddler began feeling tired too.
So he went to sleep.
When the peddler woke up, he was refreshed and rested.
He jumped out of bed and began to dress.
He ate his breakfast and was ready to go to work.
First he put on his own checked cap, then a bunch of gray caps,
then a bunch of brown caps, then a bunch of blue caps.
And on the very top, a bunch of red caps.
He forgot all about the monkeys.
As he walked along, he did not look back.
He did not see the monkeys come down from the tree.
He did not see them following him.
Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot, all in step.
[MUSIC]
The town was busy.
Some people were going to work.
Some people were walking their dogs.
Some people were shopping.
[MUSIC]
Everyone passed by the peddler.
They watched him point to the top of his head and call caps, caps for sale,
50 cents a cap.
Then they watched the line of monkeys behind him, point to their heads.
As the peddler sold a cap, he bowed to say thank you.
When the peddler bowed, the monkeys bowed, too.
Everyone was smiling to see such a sight.
One by one, the townspeople began to buy the caps.
By the afternoon, the peddler had sold all his caps.
When he got to the end of town, the peddler turned to walk home.
And what do you think he saw?
All the monkeys lined up in a row?
You monkeys, you, the peddler said shaking his finger at them.
You must go home.
But the monkeys only shook their fingers back at him and said [SOUND].
At last the peddler gave up.
He was too tired to argue with monkeys.
Besides, he was very happy, today he had sold all his caps,
the gray, the brown, the blue, and the red.
He slowly walked home, remembering the day.
He did not see the monkeys walking behind him.
Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot, all in step.
The end.
I hope you've enjoyed this story.
If you're interested to learn more about the monkeys and Caps For Sale,
More Caps For Sale, and the next sequel, Caps For
Sale, and the Mindful Monkeys, visit us at capsforsale.org.
You can learn all about their names, what they like to do.
You can enjoy free downloadable printables,
you can learn about our contents, coloring pages.
So take a look and have some fun with your friends and family.
Be safe, bye-bye.
[MUSIC]