By Estelle Erasmus
My daughter and I recently attended a book launch for a wonderful children’s book called “Chizi’s Tale.” which took place in the gorgeous lobby of the Carlton Hotel in Manhattan.
At the event, she enjoyed getting her face painted into a “rainbow zebra,” temporary tattoos, coloring pictures of rhinos, and getting an intricate animal hat created just for her.
She also loved meeting the book’s author and taking a photo with him.
The author of the book, the talented 18-year-old Jack Jones wrote the lovely tale of a baby black rhino, after he learned of the true plight of an orphaned rhino, who found a home with a park ranger and his adoring family before returning to the wild to live free.
Jones wrote the book because he wanted to inspire children and their parents to take action to help protect the endangered black rhino (poachers sell rhino horns to use in folk medicine).
The black rhino population has fallen from 70,000 in 1970 to just 4,800 today. An alarming statistic.
Chizi’s Tale” was released on June 1st by new children’s publisher, Peek-A-Boo,
What’s wonderful is that all proceeds from the sale of the book go to Tusk.org, a nonprofit that funds conservation programs in Africa.
My daughter left cradling her plush gray rhino (which she calls “Rainbow”), with a signed copy of the book (beautifully illustrated by Jacqui Taylor) in hand
Since that night, she has loved when we read the book together and she learns about what happens when a family has a rhino as its pet and all the fun stuff the rhino can do before his horn grows.
I love that Chizi’s Tale is helping to raise awareness of an important issue, building our children’s empathy in the process.
To learn more, check out the Chizi’s Tale website.
Disclosure: I received compensation to attend the event. All opinions, as always are my own.
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Greetings from Africa! I was so happy to read your lovely review of Chizi’s Tale and that you and your daughter are enjoying reading it. The plight of the black rhino in Africa needs all the attention it can get. I so enjoyed doing the illustrations for it and that I have been lucky enough to meet Chizi and his adoptive family in the flesh!
I may just have to get this wonderful book and send it off to my grandkids. Living in this world can be so sad, but hopeful at the same time.
You totally should. I love how they are giving the profits to Tusk.org.
Estelle
I was listening to NPR last week about elephant poachers – didn’t realize rhinos were endangered, too. So, so sad. It’s great that someone has written a book to help end this awful practice.
PS. Your daughter is adorable!
Thanks so much Sheryl. She had a great time for a great cause.
Estelle
Your daughter is adorable! This sounds like a great book about an important topic. I am all about saving the animals.
Thanks Lois. I know that saving the animals is a cause near and dear to your heart.
Estelle
It’s always nice to learn about a new children’s book–books are my go-to gift for little ones. I remember how thrilled I was to get one as a child!
Glad to share this great new book with you, Carol.
Estelle