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Media Release: Primatology for Pre-School – Young Monkey Deals With arrival of New Sibling
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For Immediate Release: July 1, 2010
Tombo sees a tiny face snuggled up to his mother! The new baby monkey opens her eyes and looks at him just before his mother pushes him gently but firmly away.
The arrival of a new baby is exciting, but it also changes family dynamics forever. In this endearing true-to-life story, we meet Tombo, a young Japanese macaque, who lives with his mother, sister, and extended family near Japan’s Awaji Island Monkey Center. Primatologist Sarah Turner’s deep respect for her subjects and her sparkling photographs illuminate this universal tale of growing up, moving over, and finding our way in the world.
The story told in Sarah Turner’s new picture book might be set at the Awaji Island Monkey Centre in Japan, but the themes will be familiar to any youngster who has had to cope with the arrival of a younger sibling. “”I’ve so often seen the dynamics of this story play out,” says the Montreal-based primatologist-cum-children’s author. “…a one year-old monkey is instantly weaned upon the arrival of a new baby, and suddenly has to deal with a big change in life.”
The universality of the tale coupled with the irresistible monkeys photographed with such sensitivity and affection by Turner makes this a book with lots of appeal for young readers. Turner doesn’t recall a time when she didn’t love animals and one of her fondest memories of childhood is of meeting Dr. Jane Goodall when she was about ten. “[Dr. Goodall] came for a hike with my family and was both kind and inspiring.” If a love of the outdoors and the natural world is one thread running through Turner’s life, the
author’s passion for storytelling is another. “I started writing stories as soon as I learned how to write – but I also used to make up and tell stories to my little sister.”
When working on this picture book, Turner drew on her twin passions. She is inspired by the monkeys, who she continues to study, “… and I love writing and telling stories.” This charming book is the natural result and the first in a series of books that will explore vari-
ous aspect of life with the macaque monkeys of Japan.
About the Author
Sarah Turner grew up in Victoria, B.C., where she developed a curiosity about and respect for wild creatures and places, and a love of stories and photography. Sarah first visited the Awaji Island Monkey Centre in Japan as an undergraduate student in 1999, and has returned many times since to conduct behavioural field research on the Japanese macaque monkeys who live in the surrounding forests. After completing her BA in women’s studies at Simon Fraser University, she went on to do an interdisciplinary MSc in primatology at the University of Victoria. Currently, Sarah combines writing, research and motherhood, while working towards her PhD in primatology at the University of Calgary.
The Littlest Monkey
by Sarah Turner
$9.95 Suitable for ages 4–8
To request an interview or review copy,
please contact Diane Morriss at Sono Nis Press.
Download the full release (PDF).
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