About the Author

Belinda O'Brien was born in Rockhampton, Australia and currently lives in her home town. She enjoys reading and loves exploring the different ways stories can be delivered through text and pictures. From an early age, she was always interested in creative writing and her favourite class in school was of course, English. Despite her love for all things books, she decided the world of business- advertising and marketing was where she belonged. Over the years, Belinda has run many companies - even her own - since graduating from high school in the year 2000. Since having children, she has found her love for writing, combined with her children's love for story-time has made for some wonderful stories, chronicling their journey together. Tiger Tot Books, has released her first children's book titled: The Monsters Inside, illustrated by Jemina Venter. It features a young boy, Jack, who finds himself overwhelmed, when monsters inside, want to come out to play, whenever he doesn't get his way. Jemina Venter is a local Brisbane-based artist who specialises in painting digitally using her Wacom Cintiq. With artwork based on beloved movie, television and book characters, Jemina annually exhibits her artwork at events around Australia such as Supanova Pop Culture Expo and Oz Comic-Con to share her love of these subjects. As a self taught artist, Jemina has been inspired by some amazing artists, including Emma Vieceli and Jason Palmer, and the incredible characters created by so many talented authors. Being an enthusiastic reader herself, Jemina's portfolio includes work commissioned by New York Times & USA Today best-selling authors Rachel Caine and Kylie Scott, and a number of local and international authors. You can contact Jemina through her websites Snuggle Bug Illustrations, BookNerdFanGirl and Jeminabox Jemina Venter is a local Brisbane-based artist who specialises in painting digitally using her Wacom Cintiq. With artwork based on beloved movie, television and book characters, Jemina annually exhibits her artwork at events around Australia such as Supanova Pop Culture Expo and Oz Comic-Con to share her love of these subjects. As a self taught artist, Jemina has been inspired by some amazing artists, including Emma Vieceli and Jason Palmer, and the incredible characters created by so many talented authors. Being an enthusiastic reader herself, Jemina's portfolio includes work commissioned by New York Times & USA Today best-selling authors Rachel Caine and Kylie Scott, and a number of local and international authors. You can contact Jemina through her websites Snuggle Bug Illustrations, BookNerdFanGirl and Jeminabox - Standard Nerd Artist

Reviews

"This book is a great and simple way of telling children it's not ok to react in an aggressive way, but better to just stop, breathe and calm down. My son (3) instantly started to do the breathing technique this book offered and related well to the monster concept it delivered. I was pleasantly surprised. So easy to read. Extremely catchy and It works. My children used it in their day-to-day play immediately after reading this book. I recommend it to every mother with children." Tenielle Wode - Gladstone Australia. "My initial thought was I love this book. It actually made me tear up a little, because of how it addresses the emotions our little ones face. I loved how the story addressed the emotion of anger. I use this with my two boys when their monsters want to come out and play. The technique is catchy and easy to use. Very simple and effective book, I have not read any other book with this rhythm and structure as it applies to helping a child with an emotional melt down. Love This Book." Stefani Jackson, USA. "The book provides children with a way to express how they are feeling, it uses real world problems children in this age bracket will face. I found the use of Rhyme in this context fantastic, as children tend to be able to remember things when they 'sound the same'. I'm a Kindergarten teacher and read this to my class of 3-4 year olds. The children quickly engaged to the book and enjoyed the story greatly. It was a fantastic teaching resource. Even this book without pictures would be a great tool to encourage children to talk about what they see, feel, hear when playing with peers. But the illustrations are amazing and add so much value to the story. This book allowed us to explore this emotion in a friendly "not angry way", often books that talk about Anger for children tend to be loud, big and extreme. This was a nice and refreshing change that engages children to stay calm while reading, leaving them calm at the end to have a discussions and later focus on their monsters. I love this book. I will use it in my kindergarten and throughout my teaching career definitely." Kirsty Roworth, Cairns Australia "I Loved the book. The Monsters Inside concept. I think monsters are something that children identify as something they don't want - typically they fear them. Motivation to get rid of them, which allows them to focus on what the book offers. I loved the Rhyme. Especially the chorus of the story. It's catchy and repetitive and I think this externalises the angry feelings from the child. That the 'bad' feelings of anger doesn't change who he is. It means he has to learn to manage them. This book is amazing. I'm a mother and social worker and this is defiantly a refreshing change and outlook on books that deal with these emotions." Sonia Bowman-King - Australia "Love, love, LOVE the book 'The Monsters inside' my son has read it two nights in a row. Fast becoming a favourite. Beautifully illustrated, love the integration of the dinosaur in all the pictures. 5 stars!" Natalya Adams - Rockhampton Australia "Wow! This is a really good book. So fun to read and written in a way that kids understand. I've not come across anything like this and I read lots of books to my daughter. I have just ordered more copies. Thank you." Liz Lovelock - Queensland, Australia. "My 3 girls, 1st read of The Monsters Inside...Huge hit!! They all enjoyed the story & pictures - I can certainly relate with those monsters inside my toddler at the moment. Great storyline to help kiddies understand those monsters/emotions & adorable illustrations." Pamela Andrewartha - Gladstone