Parents' Guide to

Orangutanka: A Story in Poems

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Beautiful, joyful peek at family in the wild.

Orangutanka: A Story in Poems Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

age 5+

Based on 1 parent review

age 5+

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Words and art a weave a mesmerizing rhythm in this gorgeous book about a family of orangutans in a wildlife refuge. Moving easily between sweet, intimate moments and exuberant activity, ORANGUTANKA is an attentive snapshot of a family.

Renée Kurilla's digitally colored pencil-and-ink illustrations are lush and vibrant, rich with expression and depth. Margarita Engle's text is full of expressive movement: Papa is so huge "his great weight makes/low branches waltz slowly," while his active daughter explores the forest with "hip-hop somersaults and cartwheels,/cha-cha-cha--/so many forms of orangudance/with lively arms and legs." Readers of all ages won't be able to resist trying an orangudance of their own.

Book Details

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