  | Not a spot to spot : the true story of Kipekee : the giraffe born without spots Author: Verdick, Elizabeth | |
| Price: $23.98 | ||
Summary:
When a reticulated giraffe is born without spots, her differences are celebrated, and she is named Kipekee, meaning "unique" in Swahili.
| Illustrator: | Waring, Zoe |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (04/15/25)
Booklist (07/01/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 07/01/2025 In 2023, a reticulated giraffe was born at the Brights Zoo in Nashville, Tennessee. It soon became apparent that the newcomer was something special in that the baby had no spots. The last time this rare mutation appeared on a giraffe in captivity was back in 1972, and there’s only been one report of a spotless giraffe in the wild in the past several decades. Lyrical language featuring rhyming stanzas and repeated phrases follows the baby’s arrival and welcome by its mother and all the animals, and soon human visitors start coming from all over the world to see the exceptional calf. Mama Giraffe keeps reassuring the baby that she is perfect just the way she is, and people begin wondering what would be the perfect name for such an amazing creature. Voters finally select Kipekee, a Swahili word meaning “unique.” Cheerful cartoon illustrations capture the loving relationship between the young giraffe and the other zoo denizens and show diverse crowds coming for visits. This is a sweet story about image positivity and acceptance. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.
