Brief Bio
Monkey arrived in the world in 2017 but doesn’t remember much about his first year of life. His first clear memory is being given some blue knitted shorts from his Nanna – his favourite colour!
Monkey collects and wears hand-knitted clothes, from gorgeous tuxedos to hard-wearing overalls, boots and hats. His wardrobe comes complete with knitted bathers and caps, beanies and scarves and even a Santa Claus and pirate’s outfit!
Monkey loves traveling and taking photos of his adventures. ‘Afloat in Venice‘ is his first children’s picture book featuring knitted characters lovingly made by his Nanna. He is busy working on his second book ‘All at Sea’ where he meets an amazing menagerie of sea creatures while doing his chores.
Monkey gets very excited about presenting to schools and is thrilled to be the star of the upcoming ‘Sound of Picture Books‘ show at The Fremantle Literature Centre in Western Australia.
He enjoys donating copies of his books to a variety of charities and community organisations. His motto is to ‘be a big help in small ways’.
Photos
You are welcome to download any of the following images.
Promotional Videos
Below are some links to promotional videos you are welcome to share on your own social media platforms.
Reviews
Below are links to some reviews by book bloggers of Afloat in Venice
CBCA Reading Time – Cherie Bell
“With so many children’s books published every year, it must be difficult for authors, illustrators and other creatives to be original. Afloat in Venice, the first in the Monkey’s Great Adventures series, from a new, boutique publisher, feels refreshingly different from what the big publishers produce.”
The Bottom Shelf – Barbara Braxton
The Book Muse – Ashleigh Meikle
The Burgeoning Bookshelf – Veronica Joy
“Combining photos of Venice with adorable hand-knitted characters and accessories, this is a gorgeous tale of adventure and friendship, sure to win the hearts of young readers. Showcasing the architecture and natural beauty of this unique part of Italy, this is the perfect book for armchair travellers in a time when we can only dream of overseas travel”. Excerpt from review by Gemma Patience
Kids’ Book Review – Sarah Steed
“Afloat in Venice captures the thrill of travel from the perspective of someone who has never been overseas before, and features both a sense of adventure and innocence.” Excerpt from review by Sarah Steed, Kid’s Book Review