WE CAN HELP ORANGUTANS

A naked appeal to support efforts to save these endangered primates.

Heartstring-tugging photos of an orangutan mother and baby form the core of this well-intentioned title. Crudely drawn paintings of young activists (and one weeping orangutan) have been digitally collaged in—an unfortunate and distracting design decision. The narrative text, in large type, supplies background and “fun facts” about the animals’ habits and behavior in the wild along with vague references to conservation efforts and warnings about their declining population due to habitat loss. The authors then go on to suggest that motivated readers who “live near or travel to Indonesia” can visit a “care center”—or, more feasibly, adopt a two-pronged strategy. Children are encouraged to save loose change in a jar to send to the several charitable organizations listed at the end and campaign for the use of only sustainable palm oil as a food ingredient. Children who don’t know what “sustainable palm oil” is or why they should focus particularly on that product (that is, because Indonesia exports most of the world’s supply) won’t find out here, however.

A worthy cause to support, but this is too superficial to light many fires: a brochure between hard covers.