Author: Debra Mares
Series: Standalone
Age: Childrens
Genres: Picture Book
Publication Date: October 29th, 2014
Publisher: Justicia House
Source: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon
Synopsis:
"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.
My Rating:
Review
This was absolutely the most adorable read ever! Even though the main character is a girl, I read this to my 9 month old son and he enjoyed the artwork. He clapped, he laughed, he smiled and even pointed at the animals. I loved Cabana, she was just too cute for her own good. The story itself taught how to be patient and how certain things cannot be taught just by anyone, but specific people. I totally enjoyed this book myself and definitely plan to keep this in my library for my son to read.About the Author
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.
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