A Boy and a Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz –ADVISABLE

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.