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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Jennifer Ussi. All opinions are my own.
Book Information
The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa: Book 1: The Pangolins
Written by Jennifer Ussi Illustrated by Lekshmi Bose Ages: 6-10 | 56 Pages Publisher: Little Boola Books (2024) | ISBN: 978-1-923356-01-6 Publisher’s Book Summary: Book 1 in The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa introduces Casper, a curious, city-smart cat who suddenly finds herself lost in the wild African bush, far from everything she’s ever known. Terrified of the bugs, the dark, and the strange sounds all around her, Casper is sure the wilderness is no place for a little cat like her until she meets a shy, scale-covered creature called a pangolin. As she learns to see the world through new eyes, Casper discovers the power of trust, the meaning of courage, and why protecting vulnerable creatures like pangolins matters more than she ever imagined. Perfect for readers ages 5–10, The Pangolins is a beautifully illustrated chapter book filled with:
Written by award-winning filmmaker Jennifer Ussi and illustrated by Lekshmi Bose, this 5,000-word debut in the Casper series brings the magic of African wildlife to life while inspiring young readers to be curious, compassionate, and kind. Author Interview
Where did you get the inspiration for The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat
Who Got Lost in Africa? The inspiration actually came from a conversation with my husband. We were traveling around Africa in our campervan and had spent a few hours watching wildlife at a waterhole in Namibia. It’s such a spectacular sight — all these different species gathered together, some wary, some bold, some darting in for a quick drink and disappearing again. Mark thought it would make a great book or film — the comings and goings at a waterhole — but I wasn’t entirely convinced. Ensemble pieces are hard to write, and I’ve never thought I was very good at them. Around the same time, I read about a cat in America that had gotten lost and walked over 300 miles to get home. I found myself wondering whether that cat might’ve asked other animals for directions along the way. I’ve always loved cats, and during Covid in Australia we had a little rescue — a tiny black cat with a white patch, my absolute soulmate. We called her Little Boo because she stayed small and sweet. Casper was really based on her — a brave, wise old soul in a little body, full of sass and just a touch of anxiety. What was your writing process like for this book? I find writing hard and easy, and each book is a little different. For The Pangolins – the very first book – it just came out naturally, Casper became alive on the page, for me, within minutes. Probably because I had Little Boo so real in my head that I just channeled her, gave her a voice and all the awesome things I know she would do if it was her lost in the bush. I wrote the first draft over a few days, and then, under the guidance of my husband, my very first reader, and my nieces and nephews, I added a few more characters and refined it a little before moving on to the second book, The Elephants. What is your favorite part about writing books for kids? I think my favorite part about writing these books for kids is that I know that they are learning about these amazing animals, and the more they know, the more chance the world has at long term conservation. I love to hear feedback from kids (many times teachers send me letters from the kids in their classrooms) about which animal/character they loved most, and how much they learned and how much more they want to learn. This, without doubt, is the absolute best part of writing! What are you working on now? I’m still writing the Casper series — I’m on the last book in the Africa collection, Book 10. It’s about a honey badger named Solo, who’s been chosen by the Animal Committee to escort Casper on the final stretch of her journey home. Their adventure’s a bit chaotic — honey badgers might have a sweet name, but they’re completely fearless and just a little unhinged. Together they make quite a team: Casper teaching Solo some city sense, and Solo teaching her bush smarts. And at last, Casper makes it home to a very emotional welcome from all the neighborhood animals, her brother Goulash the dog, and of course, her mum and dad. But of course, Casper’s adventures don’t end there — her mum and dad are moving to South America next. Would she really get lost again? Surely she wouldn’t get lost in a jungle… right? What is your favorite book? This is always one of the hardest questions to answer, and I bet it’s the same for everyone — there are just so many fantastic books. When it comes to children’s stories, I always go back to Roald Dahl. Such classics, so diverse, and such lovely stories. What I love is that they never talk down to children; they just invite them in and trust them to understand. For adult books, I’d probably say my all-time favorite is Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. That book made me cry, laugh out loud, and honestly, I almost went into mourning when I finished it. I just loved being in that world. Giveaway
Enter for the chance to win one of 10 paperback copies of The Pangolins, the first book in The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa. One grand prize winner will also receive a complete paperback set of the first four books in the series, perfect for young animal-lovers and chapter-book readers.
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