Duke and Toby and the Runaway Monkey

Gentle Adventure About Friendship, Courage, and Finding Where You Belong

It started as a fun day at the carnival.
Bright lights. Sweet treats. Music drifting through the air.

Little did Duke and Toby know, the real adventure had nothing to do with rides or prizes.

When they meet Bubbles, a quick little monkey in a red jacket, the laughter of the midway follows him. But when Bubbles suddenly appears at the homestead, the farm is turned upside down. Chickens scatter. Goats bolt. Old fears resurface. What feels like mischief at first begins to reveal something deeper.

Bubbles is not trying to be bad. He is trying to be noticed.

As Duke and Toby work to understand him, the story gently explores questions children wrestle with every day. Do you have to perform to be liked? Who decides who you are? What happens when your need for attention crosses someone else’s boundary?

In this heartfelt and beautifully illustrated addition to the Duke and Toby series, families will find a story that is lively and funny on the surface, yet layered with meaning beneath it. Perfect for ages 4 to 10, this carnival adventure opens the door to conversations about identity, empathy, responsibility, and the courage it takes to grow.