Have you ever wondered why a zebra’s stripes are black and white and not, say, orange and black like a tiger’s? Or even why he hasn’t got spots like a cheetah, squares like a giraffe or speckles like a frog?

Well wonder no more, as writer, illustrator and editor Bonnie Friend, a lifelong resident of Radlett, explains all in her first ebook for children, How You Know You’re a Zebra.

Aimed at children aged three to six, it is the story of how the zebra discovers who he is by trying on lots of different ‘outfits’ – the patterns of the other animals he knows.

“Ultimately it’s about being comfortable in your own skin,” says Bonnie. “This is my first foray into writing and illustrating my own book, and it’s had lovely feedback from parents and teachers, which is extremely gratifying.”

Bonnie will be exhibiting her illustrations from the book at the Radlett Centre in June.