Roly Poly, a sweet little pangolin, is afraid of trying new things. After rolling into a ball and tumbling down a hill, Roly Poly meets a new friend and discovers that exploring the world is "so much nicer when it's two!" Dewdney's bouncing rhymes are fun and make a great read aloud for the preschool set. The message about trying new things with a friend is one that many shy or timid young listeners will relate to. It's a bit young for an elementary school collection but totally recommended for younger listeners. Dewdney also includes a short note at the end with some basic information about pangolins and suggestions about where to find information about how to help this endangered animal. This new book by Dewdney has the same cadence as her Llama Llama books. Roly Poly is a very small, young pangolin who doesn’t like new things. Even friendly faces scare him and have him running away. When he hears frightening noises, he runs, falls and then rolls tightly into a ball. It takes a lot of courage for him to eventually uncurl and see exactly what frightened him so badly. But when he does, he finds that it just might be easier to make friends than keep on fleeing in fear.This is a simple book perfect for a toddler audience. Dewdney uses rhyme and rhythm as well as repeated phrases throughout the book. Filled with just enough action and strange noises, this book will appeal to children who may be fearful of new things themselves. Dewdney’s illustrations are equally welcoming. There is plenty of humor here in both the text and the illustrations too. The book ends with a paragraph of information on the pangolin.Get this into the hands of Llama Llama fans and also to those children who enjoy new, strange animals. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
What do You think about Roly Poly Pangolin (2010)?
No this isn't an ant eater, it's a Pangolin. So, I learned something new from a silly picture book!
—Raycello
I thought Roly Poly was an anteater or armadillo until reading that pangolin is its own species!
—Xslayer
28 months - Similar rhyming to Llama Llama series and cute.
—karlyle
