Ella and Monkey at Sea

Based on the author’s childhood experiences when her own family emigrated from the Netherlands, this story of a child working through her frustrations and adjusting to change with help from a toy is warm and comforting…A warm tale of catharsis and acceptance.—Kirkus ReviewsThe book reflects Boon’s childhood experience of leaving the Netherlands and traveling to America on a ship that encountered a hurricane. She sensitively portrays a child who struggles with loss but copes by expressing herself through art and by transferring her emotions to Monkey and then comforting him. A satisfying picture book telling one immigrant’s story.—Booklist Online

Emilie Boon was born in the Netherlands and spent her childhood in California and Mexico. She is the illustrator or author-illustrator of more than twenty books. She says Ella and Monkey at Sea was inspired by her own childhood experience sailing to America, when there really was a hurricane, and she really did draw a picture of the sun during the storm. Emilie Boon lives in the Boston area.