Storytelling is often called “the essential activity of human beings.” We communicate and discover ourselves through story and we all have our own to tell. We are all storytelling animals. The Animal is a personal storytelling and illustration experience born from the pain of growth and the beauty of the mundane. The final outcome took the form of a short series of children’s books inspired by life lessons, and the project itself aims to connect people through story. The final outcome’s three books include a process book filled with research and two children's books. In times of happiness and times of sorrow, stories are used to bring us out of our daily lives. To pull us away – even for a fleeting moment – from our busy minds. My hope is that The Animal brings its readers a small bit of peace. Both children's books are part of a series named Monica and Friends, which can be purchased at Barnes & Noble: barnesandnoble.com/s/Emma+Pompeii?_requestid=16648066.