Jubela
Baby rhino Jubela is content in his African home, rolling in the mud  while his mother watches over him. But suddenly Jubela's world is shaken to its  core when his mother is killed by poachers. Totally bewildered, the hungry and  thirsty baby stays beside his dead mother in the hot sun, afraid to leave her,  even for shade. It's not until the returning scent of man alerts Jubela that he  ventures out on his own and ultimately finds an adoptive mother.Based on the real-life experience of an orphaned rhino from Swaziland,Jubelais a heartbreaking--and heartwarming--story of the plight of  rhinos, 97 percent of which have been lost to poachers over the last 30 years.  Mali-based author Cristina Kessler makes a plea for increased awareness and  dedication to protecting these ancient animals in her informative and shocking  afterword. The story itself is simple and lyrical, with JoEllen McAllister  Stammen's stunning pastel illustrations capturing the intense heat and beauty of  an African savannah, as well as Jubela's agonizing situation. Parents who have  already attempted to explain life's tragedies after reading about Babar's  mother's death inThe Story of  Babar, the Little Elephant, be prepared for more poignant questions.  (Ages 5 to 8)--Emilie Coulter