Doyli to the Rescue: Saving Baby Monkeys in the Amazon

Gr 3–5—Ten-year-old Doyli and her family operate a sanctuary for baby monkeys in the Amazon rainforest, as depicted in this sweet story. Often monkeys are killed for food and their babies are sold as pets; Doyli and her family rescue the babies and nurse them back to health before releasing them back into the wild. The girl and her family live a simple existence, with no electricity or indoor plumbing, bathing in and drinking the unfiltered water of the Amazon, and sharing what they have with the baby monkeys under their care. The text and photographs will wow young readers as they learn about Doyli's adventures at home, school, and market, and her loving kindness will steal their hearts. Though cheery and uplifting, the photographs are uneven in quality. Nevertheless, the artistic design will draw in eyes, and Burnham's clever integration of serious issues will enlighten children on topics including the use of monkey meat for survival, logging and its negative consequences, and the illegal sale of pet monkeys, all seen through the eyes of a young girl. This hardbound reprint of the 2011 softcover self-published edition provides a wonderful example of a young person striving for a better world.