Orangutanka

PreS-Gr 2—A sprightly introduction to orangutans through nimble wordplay and attractive book design. Kurilla's pen-and-ink illustrations frame Engle's tanka verses, which relate a simple story of an orangutan family in an animal sanctuary in Borneo. Massive papa, whose "great weight makes/low branches waltz slowly" and mama, baby, inquisitive big sister, and watchful grandma live an idyllic existence amid the tall trees. Child-friendly verse evokes the habitat and should have wide appeal: "Imagine/rain forest music—/insects/buzz, zoom, and hum/while green leaves swish." Teachers will also appreciate the page of orangutan facts, where they can find print and online suggestions for further reading. Readers learn that the long-term outlook for this species of gentle primates is in doubt as deforestation threatens their rainforest habitats in Borneo and Sumatra. Engle also includes a note describing tanka poetry, an ancient Japanese format; the modern form is unrhymed and consists of five lines (short, long, short, long, long) of linked poems. She concludes by inviting children to write their own poems and dance like orangutans "with energetic arms and legs." This well-crafted book, with its accomplished verses and smattering of facts, should earn a wide audience.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA