This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Rita Goldner received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Art Education from Rhode Island College. She joined the Navy after college and was able to absorb a wealth of artistic inspirations while traveling to exotic places around the world
Rita is a full-time author and illustrator of children's picture books. She experiments with a variety of media while designing a character, or for page composition and lay-out. For the final version, she paints digitally. Rita is currently a member of several art leagues, and is a P.A.L. member of SCBWI. She teaches workshops on plein air painting, and a monthly volunteer art class for veterans.
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
What do you know about orangutans? Did you know that there are only about 50,000 orangutans left in the rainforests? Do you even know where they live? I have to admit that I didn’t know very much about orangutans until I read this book. Orangutans are tree-dwelling apes. They build their nests high in the trees to keep safe from predators. Even the name, orangutan, identifies them as ‘person of the forest.’ Orangutans depend on the rainforest for both food and shelter. They are primarily frugivors, preferring to eat mostly fruits, but they also eat insects, small animals, and leaves or bark. The orangutan father doesn’t live with the family as there usually isn’t enough food, but he does come to visit and he makes sure everyone hears him when he comes, marking his territory.
Author Rita Goldner is obviously concerned about the diminishing number of orangutans. The dedication for her picture book, Orangutan: A Day in the Rainforest Canopy, reads: “For young readers who might some day make a difference for wild orangutans.” The quickly disappearing rainforests are taking away the natural habitat of orangutans. They don’t repopulate quickly, as each mother only has one baby once every eight years or so.
This is a very interesting and informative picture book story. I learned a lot and I know young readers will too. Each page is colorfully illustrated to suit the text and there is usually a footnote at the bottom of the page to add an interesting tidbit, such as a relatively unknown fact about orangutans. Although this book is educational, there is also a story that takes the young reader through a day in the life of a young orangutan. Very well thought out and beautifully presented, this is a much-needed resource on what could potentially become an endangered species. Well done.
