Original Barrel Of Monkeys sketch of head with first test links.

Original Barrel Of Monkeys sketch of body with first test links.

My Barrel of Monkeys Link:

I always knew my grandfather invented Barrel of Monkeys, but, to be honest, there wasn't much more that he shared about it.   Someone asked me a few years ago why my grandfather wasn't on the game's Wikipedia game page.   So I decided to bring the game's page into the 21st century - to include my grandfather's name and the others that influenced this iconic game's history.  

 In late 2014, Milton Dinhofer, recounted the details of how Barrel of Monkeys came to market, and he shared his original drawings, original game links, prototypes, press, royalty statements and other business-related documents. All had been kept in a dusty box for a very long time.   While going through it, we discovered 2015  would mark the game's 50th anniversary.   It all started to seem like more than just a Wikipedia entry.   In 2015, TheToy Book  (the leading toy industry magazine) published my story of his story in their February/March print issue.  It was a first-time telling of how the game came to market in early 1965.  If you are a sucker for nostalgia, you can read an online, unedited  version  here.   Hasbro (the game's current parent company) wasn't even aware of the game's age.  Once they learned of it, they did a Facebook shout out to my grandfather  and the game.  My grandfather's alma mater followed with an article about him and his many other cool inventions (including the first patented plastic twisted straw!).  I did eventually get to updated the  the game's Wikipedia page.  In the process,  though, I got to know my grandfather better, and now everyone else can too.  To see all the many ways people are still inspired by the game, check out my Pinterest page  here
-Tracy

Click here to request more information about Milton Dinhofer.

Festivals & Readings:

October 4 2015                      Orange County Children's Book Festival               Costa Mesa, CA info
                                                                                                                               Booth #18,  Storyteller Stage 3:20pm with signing after
January 8-12 2016                                     American Library Association                           Boston, MA
                                  Midwinter  Meeting &  E xhibits
                                    She Yelled will be featured at the Foreword's Indie Press  Collective  Booth
March 6 2016                                                      St. Jude Medical Center's ShamRock'nRun                  Anaheim, CA info
                                                                                                                              Reading & Signing at Kids'nSmiles booth
​April 9, 2016                                       Los Angeles Times Festival of Books                                   Los Angeles, CA
                                                   SCBWI booth
April 18,2016                                                               Studio Art Center/Maryland Institute College of Art    Florence, Italy


                   

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