Engle, Margarita. Destiny Finds Her Way: How a Rescued Baby Sloth Learned to Be Wild. Sam Trull, photography. Baby Animal Tales Series. National Geographic Kids, 02/2023. 32pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES 1 – 4. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Trade $16.99. 978-1-4263-7234-6.
Destiny is a three-fingered sloth with an injured eye who was rescued in the rainforest in Costa Rica, rehabilitated, and returned to the rainforest. The text describes her treatment and healing process, and how she was prepared by the scientists to live in the wild again. There are colorful borders, maps, and lists of facts that will attract readers, and it will also be useful for reports. Filled with color photos of Destiny and other rainforest animals (by photographer Sam Trull), this will engage younger readers with its brief text and onomatopoeia of animal sounds.
Penny Peck, San Jose State University iSchool