Panther Dream: A Story of the African Rainforest

Wendy Weir's verdant acrylic paintings of rain forest flora and fauna form the rich background for this suspenseful conservation tale. When Lokuli's village runs out of meat, the boy defies his parents' warnings and sneaks into the rain forest to hunt for food. But unbeknownst to him, a sleek black panther monitors his every move. Lokuli loses his direction deep among the trees and must spend the night in the dark jungle, which is teeming with unfamiliar noises. Boy and animal eventually confront each other: they form a spiritual bond, and the panther furnishes the meat needed by the villagers. The authors' text maintains a keen balance of information and dramatic tension, while a glossary, labeled key to the illustrations and a map of the region provide easy identifications. The book is packaged with an audiocassette that features narration of the story and thematic music performed by Bob Weir, guitarist for the Grateful Dead. This inventive combination is sure to heighten ecological awareness as it entertains. Ages 5-10. (Oct.)