Pinduli
Unknown
By: Janell Cannon
Pinduli, a young striped hyena, is hurt by the unkind words of Dog, Lion, and Zebra, but her clever trick in return promotes her clan's survival and spreads harmony throughout the savannah. Includes backmatter notes about hyenas and other animals of the African savannah.
AI Overview
Book Overview: "Pinduli" by Janell Cannon
Key Themes
- Self-Acceptance and Confidence: The book emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and confidence, particularly in the face of bullying and ridicule.
- Empathy and Understanding: It highlights the interconnectedness of bullying and the need for empathy and understanding among animals.
- Personal Growth: Pinduli's journey showcases her personal growth as she learns to stand up for herself and others.
- Respect and Kindness: The story promotes treating others with respect and kindness, demonstrating how these actions can have far-reaching positive effects.
Plot Summary
"Pinduli" is a picture book written and illustrated by Janell Cannon. The story revolves around a young hyena named Pinduli who lives on the African savanna with her mother. Pinduli is blessed with a loving mother who thinks she is wonderful, but the other animals on the savanna do not share the same opinion. They ridicule her for her big ears, fuzzy mane, and uneven stripes, making Pinduli feel self-conscious and insecure about her appearance.
Feeling overwhelmed by the teasing, Pinduli tries to hide her defects by rolling in the dust, which makes the other animals believe she is a ghost sent to extract penance for their unkindness. However, it is revealed that each of the animals had been ridiculed for their own unique features, leading them to bully Pinduli in turn.
Through this realization, Pinduli extracts promises of apologies from the other animals and requests food to ease her mother's burden. The story concludes with the animals reconciling and making amends, while Pinduli and her mother benefit from the food offerings left by the animals.
Critical Reception
Kirkus Reviews: Praised for its engaging artwork and anthropomorphic story, "Pinduli" is described as a "preachy" but appealing book that will resonate with Cannon fans. The review notes that the story's message about the power of words to hurt and heal is underscored multiple times, but the book's didactic nature may not appeal to all readers.
Horn Book Magazine: Christine M. Heppermann's review highlights Cannon's knack for creating expressive and faithful-to-nature illustrations. However, the story is criticized for starting to sag under the weight of its message, particularly when it reveals that the animals teased Pinduli because they themselves had been hurt by similar taunts.
School Library Journal: Mary N. Oluonye's review praises the book for its touching portrayal of personal growth and self-acceptance. The story is described as hilarious and endearing, with Cannon successfully creating a cuddly hyena protagonist. The book is recommended for its ability to gently demonstrate how the actions of one can have far-reaching effects on many others.
Overall, "Pinduli" is a heartwarming story about self-acceptance, empathy, and kindness, with engaging illustrations that make it a worthwhile read for children dealing with bullying and self-doubt.