Monkey business for kids down at Borders (From Watford Observer)

Monkey business for kids down at Borders

1:24pm Friday 3rd July 2009 in

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Children’s author Brian Glover is returning home to Watford to launch his latest book Monkey Makes A Mess, the first in a new series that aims to help children learn through stories and activities based around the everyday life.

“I grew up in Watford and my mum still lives there,” Brian explains, “So that’s where I wanted to hold the book launch. As I owe my education to St Michael’s I figured it would be a good place to start educating others.”

Brian, a father of two boys, wanted each book in the Monkey series to be flexible enough so they can be read by an adult to a child, an adult and a child together or a child on their own.

“As a parent the one time of day I both love and hate is bed time,” confesses Brian. “Having sorted out lunches for the following day, put out clothes, brushed teeth and generally run around for the last hour getting small children ready for bed the thing I dread most is hearing the words ‘Can you read me a story please Dad?’.

The Monkey books started as the stories of Monkey’s day but there was still the element of reading stories with no child involvement or stories with no adult involvement so I decided to try and combine the both and see where it lead

Brian Glover

“Why this remark should make me shiver is easy, kids’ books are designed for kids not grown-ups and story books are designed for grown-ups to read to kids, not kids and never the twain shall meet.

“There are lots of good books that are story books which children love to hear read to them and this is great, but the children do not get involved in the story and it doesn’t help them to learn new things.”

With the Monkey series Brian hopes to bring parent and child together on a voyage of discovery and adventure. His stories are simply told and offer a delightfully childlike view of the world that families can share.

“The Monkey books were inspired and designed for a real boy and a real monkey, well not a real monkey that swings from trees and eats bananas but a monkey that exists in my youngest son’s world.

“From the day Monkey came to live with us my son treated Monkey like his best friend. Monkey did things he wasn’t allowed to do.

“If the room was messy Monkey had messed it up, if there was a sweet wrapper under the bed, Monkey had eaten it but mostly Monkey was there to talk to.

“Every day my wife and I would put Monkey somewhere new and every day my son would ask, ‘and what have you been doing today Monkey?’ when he found him.

“The Monkey books started as the stories of Monkey’s day but there was still the element of reading stories with no child involvement or stories with no adult involvement so I decided to try and combine the both and see where it lead.”

Join Brian and Monkey for Children’s Story Time at Borders, Waterfields Retail Park this Saturday at 2pm, followed by some Monkey activites. Details: 01923 2569902. Monkey makes a Mess is published by Melrose Books, price £6.99, www.melrosebooks.com