Monty's Marvelous Adventures

Book excerpt: On March 17, 2020, the Santa Barbara Zoo closed to the public due to a global pandemic. Three days later, a little penguin named Monty started to make a big difference.A hand-raised Humboldt penguin, this curious bird loved to explore with his keepers and although the Zoo was empty of guests, it was filled with the adventures of a now-famous penguin - Monty! He explored the Zoo, meeting HoneyBun the rabbit, Bangori the Western lowland gorilla, Michael the giraffe, and the leopard tortoises, always making sure to find a favorite leaf along the way. Monty's adventures were shared online and with each new video, Monty brought more and more joy. People of all ages and from all around the world proclaimed their love for the little bird that brought smiles to their day. During uncertain times, Monty brought certainty that good exists. As people were quarantined in their homes and disconnected from one another, Monty connected everyone through their shared love of his love for the world around him. When the world felt a little lost, Monty helped it find its heart! He taught people to accept differences. He reminded people that life is in the little things and with each hug he gave his keeper Ellie, people remembered that love is the most important thing.