When pop music legend Micky Dolenz — the remaining voice of the iconic band The Monkees, announced he was releasing a new children’s book, generations of fans were thrilled.

Making the project even more special was the fact he was teaming up with his daughter, Ami Dolenz. She would serve as a creative partner and illustrator to utilize her unique artistic vision. Their book, titled Lalu Toot Toot, weaves together imagination, history, music and warmth in a manner that feels both timeless and deeply personal.

This is Micky’s second children’s book and marks a milestone in his artistic journey into what he calls “anthro-mythology”: fiction inspired by seminal moments in human history and creativity. “My dad had already written a children’s book called Gakky Two-Feet, so storytelling for kids was something he’d already dipped his toe into,” says Ami Dolenz, who now lives in Vancouver with her husband, actor and motivational speaker, Jerry Trimble.

“I enrolled at Emily Carr School and took a course focused on writing and illustrating children’s picture books. He had another story idea called Lalu Toot Toot, and I thought, ‘Why not turn this into my school project?’ So I illustrated his story as part of my coursework, and it just organically grew from there.”

“What started as a school assignment between a dad and his daughter eventually became a finished children’s picture book, which feels really special”.

At its heart, Lalu Toot Toot revolves around a young boy who spends his days enchanted by the sounds of nature with an almost other worldly joy. One day, Lalu discovers an ancient-looking flute carved from bone, buried near his home.

What starts as playful experimentation quickly turns into the discovery of music itself. With every breath and note he makes, Lalu draws the attention and affection of his village and eventually discovers that his music has the power to change people’s hearts and even save the day. The story’s premise draws inspiration from archaeological findings of some of the earliest known musical instruments — including flutes carved from animal bones, believed to be tens of thousands of years old.

Micky Dolenz uses that kernel of real human history to build a lovingly imagined tale about curiosity, courage and the joy of creation.

But what truly sets this book apart — beyond the author’s lyrical prose — are the vibrant illustrations by his daughter. Ami Dolenz first gained recognition as an actress in the 1980s and later honed her artistic talents into a career in visual arts. She chose watercolors and ink to bring Lalu’s world to life. Her artistic style is loose and playful and perfectly complements the sense of wonder in her father’s story.

The experience was pure joy. “It was really special,” she adds. “I have always loved doing creative things with my dad, and this was no different. He is not only incredibly creative; he is also just a great dad and someone I genuinely enjoy being around.”

“Bouncing ideas off each other and building this book together was such a joyful experience. It felt natural, collaborative, and full of heart”.

Growing up around creativity and performance and acting in TV and film through the ’80s and ’90s, Ami Dolenz shifted her focus toward visual storytelling, earning a certificate in illustration from Vancouver’s Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

For her, working with her father wasn’t just another project — it was a chance to reconnect with the improvised stories he used to invent for her at bedtime and on long drives. “When I was a little girl, my dad moved to England when my parents divorced. He would pick me up at the airport on visits and start a Harold and Agatha story, so through my whole trip there, he would do a little bit more of the story each day.”

“And this was totally off the top of his head—he did not memorize anything and did not write anything down. By the end of this time with him, he would drive me back to the airport and finish the Harold and Agatha story.” As she shared in interviews about the book’s creation, she fell in love immediately with her father’s concept of a boy embracing music and nature, and she poured her heart into crafting imagery that could capture both the humor and the profound wonder of that journey.

The father–daughter dynamic that underpins Lalu Toot Toot is evident on every page: in the gentle humor of Dolenz’s writing, in the rhythm of his sentences, and in the expressive strokes of Ami’s illustrations. It’s a story that speaks to the joy of discovery, the courage to be different, and the unexpected ways that creative expression can connect us — themes that resonate with children and their families alike.

Parents and educators have praised Lalu Toot Toot for its imaginative storyline and its encouragement of curiosity in young minds. It’s ideal for bedtime reading, classroom discussions about creativity and history, or simply as a joyful addition to a child’s book collection. By blending myth and imagination with a subtle homage to the real origins of music, Micky and Ami Dolenz offer something that feels both educational and deeply heartening.

In a world saturated with formulaic children’s books, Lalu Toot Toot stands out as a testament to the power of family collaboration and the enduring magic of storytelling and demonstrates how imagination and love can create something timeless. It’s a legacy written by a father, painted by his daughter and cherished by readers both young and old.