Book review: What's Troubling Tawny? by Emma Sandford.

Publisher's description

THE AWARD-WINNING SECOND BOOK IN THE SUMATRAN TRILOGY

Tawny longs to make friends with another rhino, but her shyness holds her back. When she meets a hornbill called Tallulah, she is surprised to learn that she has a lot in common with the beautiful bird. Will Tawny find a way to overcome her shyness, and can Tallulah help her find a companion?

Emma Sandford's second book is a super-cute tale of friendship that gently deals with body image and self-confidence in a child-appropriate way. Just like Sandford's first book, The Problem with Poppy, £1 per book sale goes to Rainforest Trust UK.

My review (first pubished on Reader's favorite)

What's Troubling Tawny? by Emma Sandford is a gorgeous and original picture book. The way it is illustrated is fabulous. The text is embedded next to the pictures in various ways which makes it all the more appealing. The drawings perfectly complement the text. It is the story of a sad and lonely rhinoceros, Tawny, who learns, thanks to a lovely bird, a hornbill called Tallulah, about friendship and appearances. This is a wonderful book about body positivity and sharing, even if you are completely different like the rhinoceros and the hornbill. It is a profound children's book whose story will entertain kids but also show them how it is easier to make friends than you imagine and that appearances are not what matters most. All children can make friends whatever they think about themselves. What more important message could we share than "you are perfect the way you are, accept your body and yourself"? To top it all, this book is set in Sumatra, where animals are endangered because of deforestation. The publisher donates part of the book proceeds to The Rainforest Trust UK, so while reading about positive changes in the world you can actually help make those changes.