Lulu and the Others: A True Story

Lulu lives with the only family she remembers, which are her human sister and her parents—though Lulu isn’t a human girl but a bonobo, a species of great ape that is often described as a pygmy chimpanzee. Lulu lives like a human, with her own bed and bedroom, learning sign language to communicate with her family. One day, the family decides to take Lulu to an island to live with other bonobos. At first, Lulu is afraid and doesn’t want to leave her human family, but she eventually learns to live like others of her species and even helps new bonobos adapt to life on the island. Based on a true story, this book gives young readers a peek into the life of animals who are returned to the wild and offers children an opportunity to empathize. The artwork depicts the bonobos adorably but realistically. This is an excellent book for conversations with children about how wild animals should not become pets but be left to their natural surroundings and habitats.