Title: Savanna’s Treasure
Author: C. Behrens
Publisher: Self-Published
ISBN: 978-0692295199
Pages: 132
Genre: Children’s Literature
Reviewed by: Lily Amanda
Synopsis
SILVER MEDAL in the 2015 Moonbeam Awards!
LEXILE READING MESUREMENT of 780L.
Charlotte’s Web. The Incredible Journey. The Lion King. Madagascar. The Wind in the Willows. Great Children’s stories all. Now add to that illustrious list Savanna’s Treasure, the debut children’s book by Chris Behrens that is garnering superlative reviews and received a major award. A wonderful story about unlikely friendships. An action packed adventure story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Savanna’s Treasure was favorably reviewed in Kirkus Reviews, which called it a “story enriched by an inspiring animal alliance…a good fit for early readers.” 5 STAR REVIEW by Pacific Book Reviews.
Children and adults from coast to coast are having their hearts and minds captured by Shamba and Kali – two very different animals whose unlikely friendship can fight the dangers of the world around them. The narrative is a testament to the power of family, kin and passionate perseverance. Despite losing his family, his home, and his best friend, Shamba, an African field mouse, refuses to give up. His courage, determination, and wit help him forge an unlikely friendship with Kali, a baby elephant who also loses her family. Separately, they would surely die. But together, Shamba and Kali brave poachers, out-of-control fires, and savage dogs in one of the wildest places on earth: Africa’s Serengeti region.
Shamba and Kali’s union not only teaches children valuable lessons about embracing even the most unlikely of friendships, but it highlights a wealth of bold issues impacting animals and endangered species. An emotionally heartwarming story that can be read again and again!
About the Author
Chris Behrens received his bachelor’s degree from Dominican College, in New York, while working full-time and raising his two daughters. While in college he wrote two top 100 stories for the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Cintests. He had two watercolor paintings and an article featured in NJSCBWI’s Sprouts’ magazines and had a poem published in “Sunflowers and Seashells.” He continues to work on new books in his spare times and works full time as a public works manager for a small town in northern New Jersey. He enjoys spedning time with his family. He likes to run and exercise, and shoot hoops!