Brenda Scott Royce
An award-winning novelist and former chimpanzee keeper, Brenda Scott Royce is happiest when her work indulges her love of both beasts and books. Her novels include MONKEY LOVE (Penguin/NAL), about a stand-up comedienne who becomes the temporary guardian of a pint-sized primate, and its sequel, MONKEY STAR, which follows heroine Holly Heckerling to Hollywood and an impromptu stint as an animal wrangler for a feature film. Her short story "Alphabet Games" won Grand Prize in the 84th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition.
Brenda's children's books include CHAMPION'S NEW SHOES and BAILEY THE WONDER DOG (ASPCA Pet Rescue Club series); HORSES! (Animal Planet); AMAZING ANIMALS, PREDATORS, SHARKS, and DIG IT! DINOSAURS (Smithsonian/Silver Dolphin Press). She scripted several episodes of the Disney Junior animated series, "Chuggington."
Brenda earned a bachelor’s degree in primatology and anthropology from California State University, Fullerton, and has worked as a chimpanzee keeper and a behavioral research assistant. She has served as editor of ZOO VIEW, the quarterly magazine of the Los Angeles Zoo, for more than 12 years.
She is a member of the Society of Children's Books Writers & Illustrators, Writer's Guild of America/West (Animation Caucus), Women in Animation, and the Author's Guild. She's a founding member of the Los Angeles chapter of Children's Media Association.
Works

Monkey Love
MONKEY LOVE chronicles the misadventures of Holly Heckerling, a single New Yorker whose already hectic life is complicated by the arrival of a mischievous monkey. The pint-sized primate makes a giant mess of things for Holly, who quickly learns that when it comes to dating, it’s a jungle out there!
Bailey the Wonder Dog
Horses! (Animal Planet Chapter Book)
Sharks! (Smithsonian Readers)
Champion's New Shoes (ASPCA Pet Rescue series)
Amazing Animals (Smithsonian Readers)
Ultimate Predators: Smithsonian Readers, Level 3
Monkey Star
Awards and Recognition
- WRITER'S DIGEST ANNUAL WRITING COMPETITION, Grand Prize, 2015
- BOOK BUYER'S BEST AWARD, First Place, 2008