My daughter checked this out of the library with my husband, and when she asked to read it, I thought she was mispronouncing "penguin." Nope, pangolins are real animals! And this one is almost too shy to come out of its little armored ball...but finding another pangolin friend is worth the risk.

See also: Pouch by David Ezra Stein ( )

Anna Dewdney once again creates an adorable book about a shy pangolin who is afraid of new things, until he discoveries that some new experience are not al that bad. This book is a charming book with illustrations created with watercolors and pen; the pictures are beautiful and really captures the essence of Roly Poly Pangolin. This book uses humor and rhyming text to draw the reader into a world were Pangolin tries to explore new things with out being to afraid. Very cute fiction book all children are sure to love. ( )

28 months - Similar rhyming to Llama Llama series and cute. ( )

Roly Poly the pangolin is scared of everything: eating new things, going new places, etc. When he finally feels brave enough to face his fears, he discovers a new friend.

Summary: A baby pangolin named Roly Poly is very scared of new things. He stays close to his mother until another animal, a monkey, that wants to play frightens him. Roly Poly rolls into a ball and down a hill where he waits to make sure he his safe. When Roly Poly opens his eyes he sees another pangolin and is not afraid any more. Roly Poly learns it is much better to try new things with friends.

Personal Reaction: I enjoyed this story very much. The illustrations were big, detailed and very colorful. I would enjoy reading this to children and exaggerating the emotions with my voice.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1. Make a big poster with the kids that depicts the different things that were new and scary for them this year.
2. Do an art craft with the kids that makes textured scales on their very own pangolin. ( )