How Animals Say Goodnight: A Sweet Going to Bed Book about Animal Sleep Habits

Written by Esther Pia Cordova

Illustrated by Anastasiya Provozina

What a beautiful rhyming picture book!

The author presents bright, colorful illustrations of different animals as they prepare to rest. I learned a lot from this book. Did you know that giraffes sleep only twenty minutes a day? When a snail closes its eyes, it can sleep for three years. Ducks sleep in rows and have a system to protect each other from danger.

This book is a good choice for a simple bedtime story or read-aloud for toddlers or preschoolers. It contains lots of interesting information about animals for older children who may want to do additional research.

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Okapi Loves His Zebra Pants (Endangered and Misunderstood Animals Book 3)

Written by Terri Tatchell

Illustrated by Ivan Sulima

What a cute, rhyming picture book for elementary school readers! Children learn about the okapi, a relative of the giraffe with striped legs. This animal is a native of the Congo.

The fictional tale relates how a monkey makes fun of Okapi’s striped legs. His friend the grey parrot comes to his defense. Still, Okapi is curious about the zebra, who is reported to wear stripes like him. Off he goes in search of the zebra. His journey is dangerous, but he finds friends among the elephants, hippos, and gorillas.

Children learn about diversity and the value of individual differences as strengths rather than weaknesses. The author teaches children how to draw these animals, why they are endangered, and what children can do to help them. Recommended especially for preschoolers to age eight.

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The Giraffe Who Found Its Spots

Created by Adisan Books

Poor giraffe tries so hard to make friends with the other mammals. He approaches rhinos, hyenas, ostriches, monkeys, and many others trying to imitate what they do. They all seem to ignore him. Finally, he gets some good advice. Why not try to be yourself? Don’t change your spots. Rejoice in them. After a while, the giraffe discovers his value to himself and others teaching young readers to be themselves.

Large colorful illustrations of familiar animals plus large font make the book a good choice for a child learning to read. Most pages contain only one sentence so it lends itself to being a bedtime story short enough for toddlers and preschoolers.

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Raffie and Friends – The Lunch Box Mystery

Written by VaLerie Irene

Illustrated by Amy Rottinger

This book contains adorable illustrations and simple text with a message important for children to assimilate and practice into their everyday lives. Raffi is a giraffe who has a fetish for grilled cheese sandwiches. One day he finds that he has misplaced his lunch box. Raffi meets animal friends like Marlon the Monkey, Torrey the Turtle and Owie, the Owl. Each friend contributes by using individual talents, Marlon makes Raffi laugh, and Torrey has infinite patience. Owie uses his logic to solve the mystery.

Children learn that friends stick together to help each other, and that patience and thinking things through will provide the answers we are seeking. This book is recommended as a picture book for younger children and a beginning reader for older siblings.

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Giraffes: Fun Facts and Amazing Photos of Animals in Nature

Written by Emma Child

Emma Child gives us another well-written selection in the animals of nature series. The author presents a comprehensive view of the life of a giraffe in the wild. She covers their appearance, eating habits, social habits, environment, breeding, and enemies. At the end of the book there is a kind of summary or fun facts page, which children can use to share quickly with friends. Here are just a few things I learned in this book: a giraffe’s neck might weigh as much as 600 pounds, giraffes have four stomachs and a purple tongue to help protect against sunburn, and giraffes sleep only from ten minutes to two hours per day!.

Four color photo illustrations accompany each chapter. Unlike most children’s e books, these pictures can be enlarged so that the reader can study them in greater detail. The author has a good sense of humor and the book is written in a casual free flowing text style. Perhaps because the giraffe is considered such a docile animal, it is often overlooked. Children who are animal lovers will enjoy learning and looking at this book over and over. Appropriate for any age, but especially recommended as an independent read for children ages seven and older.

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Kanuki and the Wishing Tree

Written by Meredith Kennedy

Illustrated by Ali Masoud

Meredith Kennedy is a veterinarian who lives in Tanzania. She is certainly familiar with the animals of the Serengeti. This tale is about a young giraffe named Kanuki who despairs because she has a short neck. She has tried  in vain to make it grow. One day she journeys through the forest asking all the animals that she meets to give her advice on how to make that happen. Alas, each of them tells her not to worry, and explain how their adaptation is more useful. For instance, the monkey tells Kanuki, “Tails are much better. You can swing and climb with a long tail like mine.” Kanuki tries to explain that being a giraffe, that is not what she needs. Finally, Kanuki meets an animal who is willing to help. I won’t give the answer away, but this animal leads her directly to a solitary tree atop a steep hill. Kanuki  learns only that this is a Wishing Tree. She must choose her own path. The only requirement is to believe in herself.

At first Kanuki remains frustrated, but then the giraffe makes her decision. What does Kanuki discover? Were the other animals in the forest correct? Will Kanuki ever find happiness and learn to fit into her own community?

The illustrations in this book are done by an art student. They are quite impressive. The black and white simple pencil drawings are unique and pleasing to the eye. The small banners of all the animals dispersed throughout the pages are effective as well. Kennedy’s story makes a nice read aloud for a younger child. This book also provides a good early reader chapter book. The simple moral lessons embedded in the story are worthwhile ones for the young reader. I would suggest this book as a nice, enjoyable addition to a parent, classroom or school library. This book is also distributed by Worldreader,  an organization that distributes free e books to deserving children, supplying another good reason to purchase it!

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