SDCC 2026: Dynamite Kids Brings ‘Punch The Monkey’ To Children’s Books

Punch the Monkey is onto the next phase of his tale.

Dynamite announced Tuesday that its children’s imprint, Dynamite Kids, will publish the viral character’s first book-sized adventure: Punch: Is That My Best Friend? Written by Annie Auerbach and illustrated by Walter Carzon, the title is intended for “earliest readers” and includes “fun, interactive features.”

The premise: Punch is “exploring the zoo in search of his best friend — the signature cuddly toy orangutan.” Paying particularl attention to anything orange, the monkey pursues in hope of finding his comforting totem. But will he find orangutan, or something different? The book comes with “interactable” flaps on every spread (as seen below), offering the reader to help Punch find his toy. Other zoo animals like red pandas, elephants, capybaras, lions, and more also get their chance to shine as Punch continues his quest.

Punch: It That My Best Friend? arrives soon.