PANGOLINA

A pangolin advocates for wildlife conservation through her own tale of survival and hope.

Pangolina lives with her mother in a burrow. Textured illustrations detail the pangolins’ scales-plus-hair appearance, engaging readers with expressive eyes whose sparkle also resonates with Ai, a girl who later saves Pangolina following her capture by an animal trafficker. A quick plot exposes facts of life for endangered species in the wild using clear, logical, and sympathetic language accessible to the youngest readers. The atmospheric artwork defines a lush nocturnal habitat and its diverse occupants, including Pangolina’s friends Bat, wild pigs, and “wise Civet.” It’s Civet who dissects the visceral realities of animal trafficking while delving into emotional complexities that reveal the interconnectedness between animals and humans. Complementary verbal and visual narratives are compelling in their sophisticated simplicity, which offers layers of meaning, teaching moments, and opportunities for reflection. Case in point is Ai’s name, which can be: the (Mandarin) Chinese word for love; a homonym for eye—the shining feature on most spreads suggesting windows to these animals’ souls; a homonym for the English first-person pronoun demonstrating everyone’s potential to make a difference. Comprehensive aftermatter details pangolin facts, practical action items, and resources for all ages. Human characters have tan or brown skin and dark hair with various textures; one child uses a wheelchair.

Thoughtfully taps our natural capacity for empathy and kindness in caring for all creatures and our planet.