Pinduli (ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Awards) [Hardcover]

Janell Cannon (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Pinduli's mama has always told her that she's the most beautiful hyena ever. But Dog, Lion, and Zebra don't think so. Why else would they make her feel so rotten about her big ears, her fuzzy mane, and her wiggly stripes? Poor Pinduli just wants to disappear--and she tries everything she can think of to make that happen. Yet nothing goes her way. Nothing, that is, until a case of mistaken identity lets her show the creatures of the African savanna how a few tiny words--bad or good--can create something enormous.

Janell Cannon, the creator of the bestselling Stellaluna, introduces yet another endearing character in this triumphant story about self-image, self-acceptance, and treating others with respect.

Includes notes about hyenas and other animals of the African savanna.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3–After sleeping through the hot East African afternoon, it is time for Mama Hyena and her child to go hunting. Pinduli promises to stay close by, but then trots off. She comes across a pack of wild dogs, a lion, and a zebra, and all tease her about her looks. She rolls in the dirt until her striped coat is a pallid gray and her ears are pinned back. The animals think that she is a "ghost" that has come for them. All of the creatures then confess that they teased the young hyena because another animal had made fun of them. The "ghost" understands and advises them to "find your tormentors and make peace…. And always leave a bit of every meal as an offering." By story's end, the animals have reconciled, and with all the food offerings left, Pinduli and her mother never have to scrounge around looking for meals. The animals' expressions and antics are hilarious and endearing; Cannon has pulled off quite a feat in creating a cuddly hyena protagonist. This touching book about personal growth and self-acceptance gently demonstrates how the actions of one can have far-reaching effects on many others. An appealing and worthwhile purchase.–Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 1-3. Cannon, best known as the author/illustrator of Stellaluna (1993), here introduces Pinduli, a little hyena who lives in East Africa. One afternoon, Pinduli encounters a pack of wild dogs that make fun of her ears, a bald lion that calls her fur a "prickly fringe," and a zebra that criticizes the haziness of her stripes. After transforming her "flaws" as best she can, Pinduli inadvertently tricks these animals into thinking that she is the "Great Spirit." They confess their misdeeds and agree to make amends. Children will find Pinduli's hurt feelings understandable and her quick thinking admirable. The artwork, executed in colored pencils and acrylics, uses a restrained palette in the large pictures depicting the main story on the right-hand pages. On the left, below the text, a series of small ink drawings create a visual counterpoint by showing what Pinduli's mother is doing while events unfold. A four-page endnote discusses the various species of hyenas and their characteristics. Though a bit purposeful, the story may give teachers and parents a starting point for discussing insults. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152046682
• ISBN-13: 978-0152046682
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 10.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Africa
  • #54 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Mammals

More About the Author

Janell Cannon's picture books have won many awards and are beloved around the world. Before she became a full-time creator of books for children, she designed and produced summer reading programs at her local public library. Born and raised in Minnesota, Ms. Cannon now lives in Southern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant New Children's Book, September 29, 2004

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pinduli (ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Awards) (Hardcover)

Pinduli's Mother has always tried to let her know that she is the most beautiful hyena in all the world. But not everyone feels that way, especially not Dog, Zebra, and Lion, for they have all made fun of her, telling little Pinduli that her wiggly stripes are ugly, her big ears are unattractive, and her fuzzy mane is not kept well. Pinduli wants nothing more than to just disappear, then no one will be able to hurt her feelings anymore. So she tries various ways to do just that. However, it is only when a crazy mishap that she gets into triggers a strange chain of events that she finally seeks justice, and realizes that even though she's different, she's beautiful.

Jannell Cannon has once again created an amazing children's book whose story and illustrations will stay with the reader, young or old, for years and years to come. Her illustrations are nothing short of brilliant, and the storyline is wonderful, especially for young readers, for it teaches the lesson that everyone is beautiful in their own way. This is a book that should be a part of everyone's home library. Don't miss it.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sweet and amusing, April 14, 2005

By 

T.M.D. "bookish mother" (Coronado, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pinduli (ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Awards) (Hardcover)

I just read this book to my 3 year old son and he loves it. I don't think he can grasp the moral of the story yet, but he loves the story itself and the pictures. It is sweet, loving and responsible. I think it is because it teaches following through and taking responsiblity. Each individual who has hurt Pinduli's feelings realized how he had done so, explained why he did such a thing, went back and confronted the source of his irritation, who then went back and confronted the source of his irritation and it was brought back to the first individual, who owned up to his action and changed. All this was done in an amusing and loving way. Read it to your child because the book is much better than the convoluted way I tried to explain here.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a cute puppy!, November 23, 2007

By 

Judy K. Polhemus "Book Collector" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pinduli (ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Awards) (Hardcover)

What a cute puppy! Just look at those soft brown eyes, that little tongue, its smile. How adorable! Let's get this book for our grand. What's that you say? A hyena! No way! No animal this cute could be a hyena! Why, those critters are known for scavaging and tearing chunks of meat from an animal. A hyena! Why, I declare, at least, let's look through the book.

And another Janell Cannon illustrated children's book hits the bestseller list. Hyena or not, this is a cute puppy. But I mis-speak. From the back of the book I learn that there are four kinds of hyenas, which do resemble dogs but belong to their own Hyaenidae family. Our Pinduli belongs to the striped species which has the fartherest habitat range and eats anything from bugs to fruit to small animals. All the facts about striped hyenas, as well as the other animals, can be found disguised in the story. Clever.

The story of Pinduli takes her adrift from Mother. When the wild dogs laugh at her ears, she plip-plops them and finds her hearing diminished. The lion laughs at her bristly fur and shames her into the water to hide it. Then her weak stripes are made fun of. Finally, Pinduli rolls in dust, making her a ghastly white. When she begins her return trip home, she passes the water hole where the animals are gathered. They scream and run from "the ghost." Pinduli also runs. Once she realizes the mistaken identity, she assumes the character of the Great Spirit and demands each bad deed must be erased and the Great Spirit appeased.

There is food aplenty for Penduli and her mother from then on. The mother exclaims that Pinduli is not only beautiful but smart. As a children's librarian, I try not to emphasize the lessons of the stories but let children make their own conclusions which they do. Through experience, I have learned that this is a beautiful book for children. And there are no cute puppies in it!