Children's Book Review: The Spotless Giraffe by Peter Millett; illustrated by Alison Hawkins

The Spotless Giraffe by Peter Millett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fun exploration of different exotic animals as Kipekee searches for her place among them.

The Spotless Giraffe is a new children’s book written by Peter Millett and illustrated by Alison Hawkins based on the imagined first day of “school” for Kipekee, the little giraffe born without the usual spots. She’s solid brown. Since she doesn’t have spots like the giraffes that student helpers have seen in the past, they aren’t sure what animal she actually is and end up taking her to classes for animals who share other common characteristics. As she has a brown coat like a camel, they first try to incorporate her into the camel class, or because her long neck reminds them of the llamas, they try her in their class. Each time, though, some other physical feature is missing, but thinking her missing element will come later as she gets bigger, they come up with a replacement to let her fit in and feel more comfortable. They’re rather big-hearted this way. However, when their alternatives don’t work out, they keep trying another group.

Parents and children can enjoy this fun, simple story on more than one level. While there are humorous attempts to find Kipekee’s class, there is also the important theme of being oneself as they try to make the little giraffe into something she’s not.

I recommend THE SPOTLESS GIRAFFE to parents of young children and for reading aloud in a group.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy via Netgalley.

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