Vineyard Author Reaches Children, Bonobos and the Environment

"I’m Lucy: A Day in the Life of a Young Bonobo" is composed of caring words by Mathea Levine (Chilmark), astonishing photographs by Marian Brickner and a heartfelt afterword by Jane Goodall has truly been a collaborative effort brought about by a collective desire to teach children about our closest primate cousins. I’m Lucy educates, excites and ignites young readers and their families. And when purchased through the website, www.bonobokids.org, all profits from the sale of I’m Lucy are donated to non-profit organizations dedicated to saving the bonobos and the environment.

Bonobos share 98.7% of human DNA and are distinguished from other great apes by their matriarchal and cooperative society. While over 100 bonobos like Lucy and her family currently live in zoos, wild bonobos are found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo where they are often hunted and their habitat risks total destruction from human encroachment and environmental destruction. The bonobo population has dropped to nearly 10,000 placing these endangered creatures devastatingly close to total extinction.

When you visit Bonobokids.org you’ll find that this is more than a website where you can purchase the book. The interactive site offers cool information on bonobo ape kids and rewards human kids who practice ‘green’ behavior. The Bonobo Challenge blog invites kids to learn, get involved, play games and win contests while connecting with other “BonoboKids.” In zoos and in the wild, bonobo societies are cooperative and cohesive, and BonoboKids mission is to bring kids together - with each other, with the earth’s creatures, with the world.

With "I’m Lucy" you will become part of a community springboard for an ongoing and productive relationship between children and their world. Bonobokids.org gives kids the opportunity to connect to this amazing ape and to understand that today’s actions affect bonobos, and all creatures - even themselves - tomorrow.

If you like kids, animals, books and/or the Earth, spread the news…it can only help us all.