Roger Priddy (b. 1960) is the creator of Priddy Books, which publishes books for babies and young children. Priddy Books is a division of Macmillan Publishers and books published by the imprint have won several Practical Pre-School Awards.
On the surface a very simple story, but there is something melancholy at work in this tale of the friends of Charlie Monkey. We see them completely engaged in their own lives--swimming in the river, eating lunch, taking a dip in the lake. But Charlie himself is completely absent. Are these so-called friends friends at all? It's a profound comment on contemporary isolation. Also, the last page lights up and makes a buzzing noise when you open to it!