Pinduli

by Janell Cannon and Janell Canon

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152046682
• ISBN13: 9780152046682
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 1.11 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 10.2" x 10.1"
• Age Range: 4 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

Love the book!

My class loved this book and the storyline. Bullying is not ok!

What a cute puppy!

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!

This is how much I love Jannell Cannon books....

I bought Stellaluna even before I had a child! I absolutely fell in love not only with the story and message the book conveyed, but also the wonderful and endearing artwork. I have since had a child and purchased all of her books, the latest one being Pinduli. It is the perfect follow-up to her other books. My son absolutly loves these books as well! As I read these to him, he is just captivated! Do yourself and your child(ren) a favor and buy these books...you will not be disappointed!!

sweet and amusing

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.

Awesome Book!

Awesome book by Janell Cannon. If you liked Stellaluna and Verdi then you will love Pinduli. A wonderful moral to this story.

Brilliant New Children's Book

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