I have worked as a counselor since 2008, and I have counseled over two-thousand people, including children. I have also taught classes in meditation, Reiki, and yoga, which gave me a better understanding of the connection between our mind and body. I began writing my Monkey Mind Tales® book series in response to the issues I saw affecting children and adults alike. Not wanting to write another self-help book, I approached the issues using a fairytale format with exciting characters, rhyme, exaggeration, humor, and sing-song prose.
Concept and themes:
In the books, I created a world where peace, kindness, and acceptance exist naturally. Then I used characters and situations to look at what causes us to experience emotions like anger, hate, and fear as well as other universal issues that affect us all. To do this, I incorporated a mix of platonic dialogue, eastern and western philosophy, and biological theories to take a deeper look at our social structure and its side-effects. Self esteem, worry, and other issues are explored using dancing purple hippos, pink fuzzy bunnies, and other characters that, as one reviewer put it, “help the lessons go down.” I also approach more philosophical issues like, how we create our perception of reality, finding one’s purpose, issues with death, and how to think about thinking.
World Building:
The setting for my series is during a magical time in history, when the unknown was alive, and the vibrations of the world were natural. It is a time before humans began dissecting the world, pre-industrial age, when the skies were blue and stars filled the night sky with wonder. Psychologically, it is set pre-puberty, when the stress and responsibilities of our social structure were less complicated. The innocence of this world allows readers to explore concepts of psychological and biological imbalance when the antagonists, and the ramifications of their actions, create havoc, upsetting what was an otherwise balanced environment.
Philosophical Thought:
The main characters in each story are typically at the age when they begin discovering their place in the world (ages 7 – 13), the age when children begin to think philosophically. In the 1970s, studies showed that children can start thinking philosophically by around age 5. Unfortunately, this skill is not typically nurtured in a way that allows children to apply their thoughts to the “natural world.” This is because their minds were placed in a pickle jar called “childhood.” The modern concept of childhood has only existed since the baby-boom of the mid 1940s—and has stunted a child’s ability to understand the human (adult) world until much later in life. Because of this, our social structure has caused a great deal of psychological side-effects as children move from childhood into adulthood—and this series looks at what it means to be a “domesticated human” brought up in this conflicting and unnatural environment.
When I began promoting my series, I approached several organizations that focus on the encouragement of philosophical thinking in preteen development. One group was SAPERE (Society for the Advancement of Philosophical Enquiry and Reflection in Education). I asked for one of their members to read the first book in my series and she wrote me the following after finishing it: “I enjoyed the way it entwines dark, difficult issues with a sense of hope and optimism…, The resolutions are realistic and not too moralistic which is important when using story as a stimulus for creating philosophical questions. I think children will relate to, and empathize with, the feelings of puzzlement and discomfort that the characters experience and describe.” This was a theme expressed in most of my professional reviews as well, with one reviewer saying, “These fables are designed to help children make sense of the world around them and do so in a quaint, charming, and soothing way.”
The Stories:
There are a total of twenty-four stories, six stories per book, and they were published in the order they were written. Each story has a different plot and different characters, and their own lesson or a thought to ponder. The stories can stand on their own, or they can be read out of order—but reading them in the order they were written creates a journey for the reader with a joyful outcome. There is also a hidden story-arch that begins with the first poem in the first book, Tales For Your Monkey’s Mind, and ends with the last poem in the final book, Tales For Tra-La-La Day.
Age Range:
Professional reviewers, teachers, and therapists, have stated that the books can be enjoyed by all ages, especially 7 and up. I wrote each story so that an adult would get as much out of it, if not more, than the child being read to— and for it to create conversations, but without sounding overbearing or preachy. One reviewer said, “Ages zero to 119 can benefit from the wit and wisdom, the humor and honor portrayed in each tale…, if you take the time to read and ponder for yourself, you may find your mind and spirit turning child-like again.”
The Art:
The art has a black and white line drawn style meant to be soothing and interesting—and the style improves on itself with each book. Tom Fee and I worked on it for over twelve years, and several reviews have positively commented on our illustrations as amazing, detailed, and even beautiful.
Classrooms, Libraries, and Counseling Offices:
Professional reviewers have said that my series will appeal to “young adolescents with a contemplative turn of mind,” and that the books are an “electric work of children’s fiction, which can inspire kids to read, or even be more creative themselves.” Additionally, I’ve received several national and international book awards for each book. While some awards were for categories in “children’s literature,” others were not. The award given to me by “Living Now” was for their “general fiction category,” and it’s an award given to books that “enrich our lives and make the world a better place.”This, and the other non-children’s-category awards I’ve received, show that my series is truly for all ages.
So far, every professional review I’ve received has been positive, and remark on how the series will help both children and adults in understanding their world, while also suggesting the series would be perfect for classrooms, counseling offices, and libraries. Here are a few samples:
“In addition to being excellent bedtime stories, these tales would work well in a classroom to spark conversation about the problems children might face and possible solutions to them. Using surprising elements like pink bunny bullies makes it easier for kids to look at real-world problems in a more objective way and talk to adults about them.”
“The plots of these stories aren’t complicated, but the ideas each tackles reflect some of the most complex issues adults face around the world.”
“There’s a refreshing maturity to Reedy’s stories. He’s not talking down to children, or underestimating their powers of comprehension, yet the stories never lose their core accessibility and playfulness.”
“The philosophical insights inherent in the stories are great and can be beneficial for kids, especially in today’s world.”
“Each story has a different message to send about how to go through life (and even death), and each message builds on the last. The book will lead to a lot of interesting discussions between parents and kids, as the morals in each tale are multi-layered. Definitely recommended for kids and adults alike.”
Thank You:
I appreciate your interest in my series. If you wish to order one, or all four, I have a page (hyperlink) on my site that lets you order directly from Ingramspark’s publishing house. This much cheaper than the Amazon price or the price on other retail outlets. You can also listen to me read a few of my stories by checking out my media page.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at: contact@monkeymindtales.com.
Sincerely,
Steve Michael Reedy
