Text by Olga Vasilkova, illustrated by Elena Repetur
Every child wants to find their place in the world. Faced with the issues of both accepting the others and being different from the peers, they are trying to figure out what’s good and what’s bad.
Little Rupert, a typical giraffe, goes to school with other animals. One day, a white giraffe called Blanca, from the family of nomadic giraffes, joins the savannah. Fascinated, Rupert wants to befriend her, but he believes it would be impossible. He thinks that the white giraffe is so unique and beautiful that there’s no way she will become friends with a regular giraffe like him. Rupert considers himself too ordinary and feels embarrassed by that. The white giraffe Blanca, on the other hand, feels that she is too special. She struggles with her exceptionalism and just wants to be like everyone else. Throughout the story, Rupert and Blanca are trying to transform themselves. Both are successful: with the help of his friends, Rupert acquires a fake trunk, a detachable mane and wings and turns into the incredible Highland Crattle, while Blanca dyes her white hide into a yellow one with brown spots and becomes a regular giraffe. But at Cheetah’s birthday party, the mysteries are revealed – Rupert loses his trunk and mane and once again becomes a giraffe, while the rain washes off Blanca’s color, turning her white. They revert to being themselves – and that doesn’t preclude them from becoming friends. They are both beautiful in their own way: the regular yellow and the unusual white giraffes.
KEY SELLING POINTS
Excessive thoughts, anxiety, family expectations, stress at school make life complicated.
Vibrant illustrations by the finalist of BCBF Illustrators Exhibition 2020 and winner of Landscapes and Portraits of BCBF 2023.
For beginning readers.
The second title in the series of short stories, featuring animals as the main characters, about growing up when you are very sensitive.
Early reader book Age: 6+ Pages: 64 Size: 195 х 215 mm First published by Albus Corvus in 2024
