Pedro the Puerto Rican Parrot by Beverly Jatwani and Sunita Chawdhary

Pedro The Puerto Rican Parrot is the first book in the Together We Can Change the World series. This is a new picture book series of seven stories, covering seven continents with seven important virtues being showcased while children show care and responsibility for Planet Earth. In this opening book the virtue is love. Dominic and his mother visit Mr Gonzales who runs an Animal Rescue Centre and offers him some food for the animals. They hear an incredibly noisy endangered Puerto Rican emerald-green parrot squawking in distress. Dominic would like to take the parrot home, but it has been injured and requires special care. He offers to volunteer at the rescue centre and care for the parrot daily. He is warned by Mr Gonzales that he will need patience and love to make a difference. Over time the parrot named Pedro gradually begins to accept Dominic’s care and settles down. One day Dominic arrives at the rescue centre to find the parrot has been given to a new home until he is ready to be released back into the wild. Dominic is saddened and disappointed but there is a surprise waiting for him at home.

This is a lovely story that younger readers will enjoy. They will appreciate the connection between Dominic and Pedro and will learn something new about a bird from another country from the thoughtfully included facts about Puerto Rican parrots on the final page. A welcome addition to a home, school or public library.

Themes: Endangered Species, Wildlife Vets, Love, Families, Care, Puerto Rico, Parrot, Animal Rescue.

Kathryn Beilby