Book review: Nicko: The Tale of a Vervet Monkey on an African Farm
This is the true story of Alice Kirk and Nicko, the baby vervet monkey that was found abandoned on her home farm in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
Reviewed by: Samantha Keogh.
Review made possible by Penguin Random House South Africa.
Alice and her husband Jack shared their home with a menagerie of animals – both domestic and wild so when they found Nicko they decided to open their home to him too.
Alice raised Nicko and he remained there as her companion until he died of old age at 17.
The story tells the tale of his interactions with his new family both animal and human and is a wonderful story for children aged six to nine.
It carries the reader through a range of adventures and emotions from the wonderfully whacky and hilarious to alarming and sometimes sad.
This true story is told by Alice’s granddaughter, author Penny Haw who heard about her gran’s adventures with Nicko throughout her childhood.
Penny tells the story in the first person through Alice’s ‘voice’.
Children and even adults will enjoy reading about Nicko’s escapade and his relationships with Alice, Jack and the rest of the motley crew.
While this is a great read for animal lovers, the addition of a Scottish terrier made the book a win for me.
