Consumer Critique: Orangutan Houdini

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.

I recently got a copy of the book Orangutan Houdini by Laurel Neme. It is a cute book with a story my girls loved, about an orangutan who kept escaping from his cage. It's based on a real story, which intrigued my girls even more! The illustrations were cute too, and helped bring this story about a very intelligent orangutan to life. After eliminating carelessness from the cause of Fu Manchu's escape, the zoo finds out exactly how he's getting out - and the animal ends up being awarded an honorary membership to the American Association of Locksmiths for his clever behavior! It's a great book to raise awareness of how intelligent animals really are.

As an environmental journalist and consultant, Laurel Neme, PhD, has camped in the Kalahari, searched for peregrine falcons in the Arctic, and gotten lost in the Amazon jungle with the Brazilian Federal Police, all in pursuit of knowledge and a good story. She often uncovers true animal tales, like this one, that strike her funny bone while providing insights into a species. She is a contributor to National Geographic and author of ANIMAL INVESTIGATORS: How the World's First Wildlife Forensics Lab is Solving Crimes and Saving Endangered Species. ORANGUTAN HOUDINI is her first book for children. She lives in northern Vermont.