Reviews
Afloat in Venice
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
The Messy Bath Monster
Below are links to some reviews by book bloggers of The Messy Bath Monster
Maggie Dent – “This is a totally delightful picture book… This would be a special gift or a much-loved book in any ECEC, home or library.”
@ReadingwithSaam – ‘We have read this book 4 times since getting it yesterday!…My kids absolutely loved it!’
@itsalibrarianslife – “Everyone will adore this beautiful and heartwarming picture book. The perfect read aloud story in your home, school or classroom.”
Tweed Coast Living (Magazine) @tweedcoastliving
It’s pure magic. Hand-knitted characters (made by Tina’s 80-year-old mum, Joan Wilson), playful photography, hidden surprises for little readers, and an original music score that brings Monkey’s bath-time adventures to life. From bubble chaos to underwater kingdoms, this story is all about imagination, slowing down, and the joy of making something by hand.
It is a gentle reminder that the most memorable stories are born from shared moments, taking your time, and not being afraid of a bit of mess along the way – the kind kids (and grown-ups) remember long after the bath is over.
“This is such a charming, engaging story and is certain to captivate young readers. Tina Wilson has (almost!) cleverly disguised who the real messy bath monster is by embarking on a wild adventure to the high seas where Monkey encounters fish, crabs, octopuses, whales and even a pirate ship. There is something delightful to be found on every page and the combination of knitted creatures combined with real life backgrounds is ingenious… But for the complete experience of Monkey’s latest adventure, you need to listen to Matt Ottley’s marvellous, animated and playful music accompanying the story as it’s read aloud by the author. The music enriches the narrative and opens new dimensions of imagination. ”
@coffeeandpages2021 – “Utterly perfect. My heart is full that this is a mother-daughter adventure. With both their creativity on every page. My Mum is a knitter and also crochets, so to see this craft still exists and is so loved, fills my happy cup. I can’t wait to share this book with her. So for me, it’s a book for all ages to thoroughly enjoy.”
The Bottom Shelf – Barbara Braxton
“With the CBCA’s 2026 theme being ‘Symphony of Stories’, this would seem to be perfect timing to introduce children to the concept of a multi-modal experience.”
The Book Muse – Ashleigh Meikle
“Tina has created this world so beautifully with the toys and her photographs and pictures to create the fun story. It’s gorgeously done, and brings the magic of imagination to life beautifully.”
@belinhas.bookshelf – “The artwork is absolutely stunning-the vibrant colours and captivating scenery instantly grab the kids’ attention. The writing is spot on too, perfectly capturing little imaginations and keeping them engaged from start to finish. I also love that it comes with a downloadable soundtrack to make storytime even more magical.”
@newgirlonthebookshelf – ‘Well this one certainly gets the tick of approval. Miss piper absolutely loved the cheeky monkey and all his bath time antics. Such a fun little journey from start to finish, brought to life with the most beautiful illustrations.’
@artsplorers
“Pure delight is how I would describe both Miss 8 and my reaction to The Messy Bath Monster. Each page is a gorgeous scene with these characters in which you can feel the love and joy that went into creating such whimsy (knitting by Joan Wilson). The images really take me back to the sort of pictures I would have been so drawn to as a child, and which we don’t see much of these days. I was wondering if it was a sort of nostalgia that made me love the aesthetic of this book so much, but then watching Miss 8 with a huge smile on her face – and also awed at the craft – I decided that there’s something really elemental at work here. There’s the love that’s imbued in hand-crafted animals and there’s the fun of seeing toys ‘come to life.’
Further to the experience is that this book is part of The Sound of Picture Books project, in which Matt Ottley has composed music that collaborates with the story. A free download of the music and narration is included. Miss 8 kept saying, ‘I want to hear how this page sounds!’
It’s evident how much care, creativity, and interest in the imaginative experience of childhood has gone into this work. We are charmed.”
@indoor_g1rl – “Each page is a gorgeous scene with these characters in which you can feel the love and joy that went into creating such whimsy (knitting by Joan Wilson). The images really take me back to the sort of pictures I would have been so drawn to as a child, and which we don’t see much of these days. I was wondering if it was a sort of nostalgia that made me love the aesthetic of this book so much, but then watching Miss 8 with a huge smile on her face – and also awed at the craft – I decided that there’s something really elemental at work here. There’s the love that’s imbued in hand-crafted animals and there’s the fun of seeing toys ‘come to life.'”
@read.it.with.t – “The pictures are so vibrant and the knitted characters are simply too sweet! They’re easily identifiable which was perfect for conversations. My 3 year old absolutely loves this book and it’s become a regular on the bookshelf.”
@_girlssquad – “This was such a cute picture book! My girls loved these books style in the pictures as they’ve not seen much like it before. I loved that you could download music to go with it too! So cool!”
@rexreads & @sammyreads – “This book couldn’t have come into our lives at a better time, my son is LOVING monkeys and bath time, so having a children’s book that’s centered around that has been a joy to read together. What I find special about this book is the use of realistic background photography, but the animals are insanely cute, real knitted animals! In the back of the book, there are also links to the knitting patterns if you want some inspiration for your own creations.”