Jenny The Chimpanzee – A Children’s Book Review

”Today I have a story to tell

A story I know very well

The story of how we came to be

Told by no other than Jenny the Chimpanzee”

The book Jenny the Chimpanzee written by Lotus Kay and illustrated by Chey Diehl starts with the above interesting lines that will spark the interest of young readers. Today, more than ever, it has become a necessity to teach our children to be empathetic to the world around them and to respect all living beings. The world deserves to be loved and taken care of. And this book highlights and teaches that!

The book showcases how the living world is interconnected to each other and the impact it has on one another. It is all a part of a chain, a chain that needs to be preserved. If one part of the chain is missing the world wouldn’t be the same.

One page also illustrates the different types of primates to help children learn and recognize the different types of apes and monkeys.

Language and Illustration

Written in rhyme, Lotus Kay puts forward the most important lesson in an easy way. The words and rhyming are very pleasing to the ears and even the younger kids will love to hear the story read out to them. It would be a great story to read aloud while imparting crucial knowledge. Lotus Kay is a teen writer and is a recipient of a grant from Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots Program.

The illustration for the book has been done by Chey Diehl. She is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The pictures accentuate the story told and are bright and green. It depicts our mother nature and makes the book feel vivid.

Bears for Cares Children’s Book

The book is the latest in the Bears for Cares book series and campaign founded by Lotus Kay and her sister Jazmin. They founded it as a project of Jane Goodall Institue’s Roots and Shoots youth service program. The mission of the Roots and Shoots program is to instill compassion and respect for all living things. And also to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs. This way the youth can learn to help make the world a better place for everyone.

The main aim of the campaign is to make the children aware of the wildlife and our world. And focuses on how we can help to change the world to make it a better place for every living being. The other books in the series are “More Beautiful than Heaven” “A Thanksgiving for the Turkeys” and “Billie the Octopus”. Stuffed animals are also available based on the characters of the books.

My Thoughts:

Being a mother of two young kids below the age of 5, I was thrilled to find this book. The chance to impart such valuable information through these beautiful rhyming words made me so happy. The Pandemic has emphasized the issue of caring for the Earth, and, this book is a great medium to teach our kids the value of nature. My kids also loved looking at all the pictures and could understand the words that said how we should respect everyone on this Earth.

The book also features inspirational quotes from world-renowned ethologist and environmentalist Dr. Jane Goodall. A few pages are also dedicated to Jane Goodall and the work she does and the belief she holds regarding the animal world. This book will introduce your children to this motivating lady who had made a huge difference in the preservation of the Earth and the protection of Chimpanzees.

If you want to gift this book to your children for the coming Earth Day on April 22, you can buy it on Amazon. You can find the softcover for $9.99 and the hardcover for $14.99. I am sure you and your child will love reading this book and know more about our environment.