Rabinowitz,
Alan A
Boy and a Jaguar 32 pgs. HMH Books for Young
Readers, 2014. $16.99 Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G
Violence: G. PICTURE BOOK/BIOGRAPHY
When
Alan is a little boy he talks to animals and make a vow to sad jaguar housed at
the Bronx zoo that he will be her champion. But Alan stutters and finds
communicating with people to be his biggest challenge, something that is
necessary if he is going to help save animals and their habitats. He pursues
his promise and works through his stuttering to help found a preserve for
Jaguars in Belize.
I think
this is a wonderful book but that it does require a teacher to guide the
students through the content. I love how the stuttering and the ability to talk
to animals comes together and how the dreams of a child became a reality for the
grownup through hard work and perseverance. This book would great for a unit on
conservation or for a speech teacher working with a student who stutters.
Students can learn more from the authors non-profit website about big cat
conservation. EL(K-3) -ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.