Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Jennifer Ussi to bring you this post.
Cats can do amazing things. I know I have three of them. I love my cuddle times. In fact, I have one on my lap as I write this post. Today I get to share a fun middle grade/early chapter book with you about a curious cat who gets lost in Africa and has many adventures to find her way home. The book is The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Gets Lost in Africa: Book 1-The Pangolins by Jennifer Ussi and illustrated by Lekshmi Bose. And there is a giveaway at the end of this post!
About the Book:
The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa: Book 1: The Pangolins Written by Jennifer Ussi and Illustrated by Lekshmi BoseAges: 6-10 | 56 Pages |Publisher: Little Boola Books (2024) | ISBN: 978-1-923356-01-6
Publisher’s Book Summary: Book 1 in The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa introduces Casper, a curious, city-smart cat who suddenly finds herself lost in the wild African bush, far from everything she’s ever known.
Terrified of the bugs, the dark, and the strange sounds all around her, Casper is sure the wilderness is no place for a little cat like her until she meets a shy, scale-covered creature called a pangolin. As she learns to see the world through new eyes, Casper discovers the power of trust, the meaning of courage, and why protecting vulnerable creatures like pangolins matters more than she ever imagined.
Perfect for readers ages 5–10, The Pangolins is a beautifully illustrated chapter book filled with:
- A fun, heartwarming animal adventure
- Gentle themes of friendship, bravery, and conservation
- Fascinating facts about pangolins woven into the story
Purchase Links:
About the Author:
Jennifer Ussi is an award-winning filmmaker, educator, and storyteller, traveling Africa in her ancient campervan with her husband, her camera, and an insatiable appetite for telling stories. Inspired by Africa’s wildlife and countless stories of wandering cats, she created The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa, a children’s book series blending humour, adventure, and, especially, wildlife conservation. Jennifer’s work reflects her passion for wildlife, storytelling, and inspiring young readers to care about conservation.
Discover more from the author at www.littleboolabooks.com.
From Me:
In this book we are introduced to the adorable Casper. Casper is a helper and known for his two hearts--the one inside and the one outside. He loves to help the cats and even the dogs in his neighborhood. The first half of the book introduces us to Casper and takes us on an adventure with him to save some kittens. Then he falls asleep in a stranger's car and when he wakes up, she is no longer in the city. She is in the bush of Africa. She is alone and scared as well as hungry and tired. It is nighttime and dark. She doesn't know which way to take the road to get home and wonders if going through the bush would be better just like she cuts through yards at home. However, this gets her more lost. She climbs a tree and falls asleep but when she wakes up it is still dark, and she forgets she is in a tree. She falls out of the tree and lands on someone. Casper meets her first pangolin, Junior. Junior tries to help Casper and has her try some of the termites he loves. Casper does not enjoy getting termites in her nose and ears or how they taste. Next, they meet Felicity, a bat-eared fox. Then Casper learns about poachers and how pangolins are a hot commodity. Casper and Junior save some captured pangolins who happen to be Junior's family. The family wakes Gary, the go-away bird to warn the other animals in the bush that there are poachers. Then they take Casper to their home to sleep and take her to someone who should be able to help her get home.
I love that this book has an adventurous cat and introduces readers to African animals they may not have heard of previously. At the back of the book there is information about them. I also love how poachers are introduced into the story and discussed. Casper's first response to people is that they could help her get to her family which are people and a dog. Junior explains that the poachers are not nice people and want to capture him for his scales and to eat him. At the back of the book, it is explained that pangolins are the most trafficked mammal and are threatened by extinction, so the poachers are a huge danger to the species. It is a wonderful introduction to extinction and the threats of the world on animals. This book is the perfect book for a young reader who is ready to venture into chapter books. It is an illustrated short chapter book. It is also perfect for a classroom to read to learn about African animals and Africa as well as endangered animals. It is a fun story and a good read. The pictures are colorful, and the adventures are fun.
To learn more about Africa check out these resources including another book about a kitten lost in Africa with a very different feel and includes a cat craft roundup, and for more on cats we have these posts.
Giveaway:
Enter for the chance to win one of 10 paperback copies of The Pangolins, the first book in The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa. One grand prize winner will also receive a complete paperback set of the first four books in the series, perfect for young animal-lovers and chapter-book readers. Good luck!
