Author Corinne Fenton found this unusual story of the friendship between Arthur and Tertius, a gibbon.
In a Hong Kong market, before World War II, Arthur met and made friends with Tertius. The cheeky and playful gibbon kept Arthur company, swinging in the trees in the garden and causing havoc when he played with objects around the house or ate something he shouldn't.
When Arthur had to escape Hong Kong during the war, he smuggled Tertius aboard the ship. Arthur continued his work in Singapore until it was no longer safe to do so and was evacuated to Australia.
Tertius' arrival in Australia was kept secret though, because animals like him were not allowed into the country so easily (Arthur was flouting quarantine laws!). Unfortunately, he didn't stay secret for very long, and Arthur was forced to hand Tertius over to the Melbourne Zoo.
Building on Corinne Fenton's heartwarming story, Owen Swan's beautiful illustrations help draw an evocative picture of Arthur and Tertius and their life together.
Grab a copy of My Friend Tertius to discover more about Arthur and Tertius and find out what happened to them.
Title: My Friend Tertius
Author: Corinne Fenton
Illustrator: Owen Swan
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $24.99
Publication Date: February 2017
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760113827
For ages: 5 - 8 years
Type: Picture book
