Title: It’s This Monkey’s Business
Author: Debra Postil
Publisher: Justicia House
Pages: 32
Genre: Children’s Books
Format: Hardback/Kindle
“Cabana,” a young spider monkey is brought to life to tell her story
It’s This Monkey’s Business to
help children who are affected by domestic violence and divorce.
Cabana, who lives with her parents in a treehouse high up in a
rainforest canopy, becomes startled one day from her Mama’s scream, when
she is waiting atop a tree branch for her Papa to teach her how to
swing. After falling to the forest floor, Cabana frustrated from her
parents’ fighting, decides she will search for a new family to be part
of. Her persistence is cut short when she braves the river to play with a
pink dolphin, unaware she cannot swim. The tragedy brings her parents
together to realize they can no longer live together. Cabana reconnects
with her Papa, realizing he is the only one that can teach her how to
swing.
It’s This Monkey’s Business is an approximately 756 word
children’s book targeting ages 4-8, which is set in a rainforest and
featuring “Cabana,” a young female Spider Monkey, her parents and
rainforest animals. The book is approximately 30 pages long and features
full spread color illustrations.
For More Information
- It’s This Monkey’s Business is available at Amazon.
- Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
Debra Mares spins a great teaching tool in her book
It's This Monkey's Business. It is a sad thing, but many families today are affected by domestic violence and divorce. Mares uses rhyming verse to help families deal with this topic. It's This Monkey's Business is a wonderful resource. The illustrations are big, bold and very colorful for youngsters. However, I was somewhat disappointed in the quality of the book make up. I don't know if it was just because my book was an ARC (advanced readers copy) but the first time I opened the book the binding snapped and by the end of reading the book I had two pages completely out. I don't like writing bad reviews and maybe it was just the way the ARC was made. It is a wonderful story, message and book.
For Independent Author
Debra Mares,
violence against women is not only a topic in today’s news, it’s a
topic in her crime novels, cases she handled as a county prosecutor, and
now it will be the topic in her first children’s book
It’s This Monkey’s Business.
Debra is
a veteran county prosecutor in Riverside currently specializing in
community prosecution, juvenile delinquency and truancy. Her office has
one of the highest conviction rates in California and is the fifteenth
largest in the country. You name it – she’s prosecuted it – homicides,
gang murders, domestic violence, sex cases, political corruption, major
fraud and parole hearings for convicted murderers. She is a two-time
recipient of the County Prosecutor of the Year Award and 2012 recipient
of the Community Hero Award.
Debra is the granddaughter of a Mexican migrant farm worker and
factory seamstress, was born and raised in Los Angeles, was the first to
graduate college in my family, and grew up dancing Ballet Folklorico
and Salsa. Her own family story includes struggles with immigration,
domestic violence, mental health, substance abuse and teen pregnancy,
which she addresses in her novels. She followed a calling at 11 years
old to be an attorney and voice for women, and appreciates international
travel and culture. Her life’s mission is to break the cycle of
victimization and domestic violence.
Debra is also the co-founding Executive Director of
Women Wonder Writers,
a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization implementing creative intervention
and mentoring programs for at-risk youth. In 2012, Debra self-published
Volume 1 of her debut legal thriller series,
The Mamacita Murders featuring
Gaby Ruiz, a sex crimes prosecutor haunted by her mother’s death at the
hands of an abusive boyfriend. In 2013, Debra released her second crime
novel,
The Suburban Seduccion, featuring
“The White Picket Fence” killer Lloyd Gil, who unleashes his neonatal
domestic violence-related trauma on young women around his neighborhood.
To bring to life “Cabana,” Debra partnered with 16-year-old Creative
Director Olivia Garcia and Los Angeles based professional illustrator
Taylor Christensen.
16-year-old Creative Director Olivia Garcia attends high school in
Panorama City, California, is the Los Angeles youth delegate for the
Anti-Defamation League’s National Youth Leadership Mission in Washington
D.C., an ASB member and AP student and enjoys reading, crafting and
knitting.
Taylor Christensen is
a Los Angeles-based illustrator holding a BFA from Otis College of Art
& Design, focuses on fantastical creatures and surreal imagery, and
produces artwork for illustration, character and concept design.
Her latest book is the children’s picture book,
It’s This Monkey’s Business.
For More Information
a copy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review by....
