It's This Monkey's Business
Debra Mares, Taylor Christensen, Olivia Garcia
Hardcover
(Justicia House, Oct. 29, 2014)
Cabana, a young spider monkey is brought to life to tell her story 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. It doesn't take long for her to discover it's a dangerous world out there. It's This Monkey's Business safely explores with children, issues surrounding domestic violence in the home. It is an approximately 629 word children's rhyming book targeting ages 4-8, which is set in a rainforest and featuring Cabana, a young spider monkey, her parents and rainforest animals. The book features 32 pages of vibrant full spread illustrations along with front and back cover illustrations. This easy-to-understand and fun-to-follow children's fictional story is intended for families who have been affected by domestic violence or wish to bring awareness and prevention of this issue, which affects 3 million children who are estimated to witness domestic violence in their home in the U.S. annually, and the over 275 million children worldwide who exposed to violence in their home. This book is intended where parents decide to separate or divorce as a result of a domestic dispute, but plan to stay active and involved in their child's life. Cabana's experience will help children learn what domestic violence looks like, the emotions triggered, how family life will change, and understand that the abuse is not their fault. Cabana also will deliver the message that single-parent families can thrive.