I’ve just finished making my second children’s picture book, The Messy Bath Monster. It has taken quite some time because I had so much to do!
I spent lots of time on my photo shoots; in the Spiller’s bathroom (thank you Jo and Bernard for letting me use your bathroom); Whale watching at Brunswick Heads; and taking LOTS of underwater photos (that meant learning how to snorkel and how not to go wrinkly in the bath!). A huge thank you to photographer Craig Parry who let me use some of his underwater photographs for my background scenes. Finally, after weeks of editing … re-writing … the book is published! Whew, I’m tired just thinking about it.
In this wild and wobbly adventure, set in the depths of a bathtub, I go looking for the MESSY BATH MONSTER. I know it is hiding in the bathroom because it leaves a HUGE MESS behind. Will I discover who the bath monster really is?
Dive deep into a colourful underwater world in search of the Messy Bath Monster, and meet many amazing knitted sea creatures along the way … but is it all in my imagination? You will have to wait and read it for yourself – Don’t be afraid though, it’s not scary 🙂
The book includes original music composed by my dad, the highly acclaimed, Matt Ottley, as part of the Sound of Picture Books performance initiative.
HOW TO PURCHASE
The Messy Bath Monster was released in Australia on October 1st 2025 by One Tentacle Publishing.
If you can’t find Afloat in Venice or The Messy Bath Monster in your local bookstore (sometimes they run out) then please buy one directly through my publisher’s website, One Tentacle Publishing.
THEMES
A lot of this book was created during the COVID lockdowns so I wasn’t able to travel anywhere … but I learnt a really important thing: that imagination is the best way to travel! So the themes for this book are imagination, adventure, bravery, the sea and friendship.
THE MUSIC
My composer dad – Matt Ottley has created extra special music for The Messy Bath Monster. It’s perfect for splashing about in the bath!
You can download the music for free from Dad’s Sound of Picture Books website.
TRAILER – Animated film
Here’s a sneak preview of The Messy Bath Monster film.
PERFORMANCES
I’m super excited to have starred in some special performances of The Sound of Picture Books in Western Australia to celebrate the book’s launch. I loved working with The Literature Centre and musicians from The Perth Symphony Orchestra and creating two special concerts for children at the Perth Children’s Hospital.
For details about the Western Australian performances click here.
Stay tuned for more performances across Australia in 2026!
TEACHER RESOURCES
Some great free teacher resources are available for you to work with.
REVIEWS
Click here to see reviews of The Messy Bath Monster.