Cover Image: Destiny Finds Her Way

Destiny Finds Her Way

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This non-fiction text based on a true story teaches readers about Destiny, a sloth in an animal rescue sanctuary. There is lots of great information about sloths and specifically the 3-toed type from Costa Rica that is specific to Destiny. The photographs were great and helped give context to the information. There is also a lot of discussion about conservation and the work that biologists do. This is a great book and one I would definitely recommend. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

Was this review helpful?

Anyone who loves sloths will fall in love with Destiny and cheer her on. Destiny is one of many sloths at a sloth rescue sanctuary. Readers may not realize the many dangers sloths face from deforestation and power lines but his delightful book will educate them and hopefully encourage them to take action.

Was this review helpful?

Destiny is a baby sloth from Costa Rica. She was found alone without her mother. She is rescued by biologists that help Destiny learn to care for her. Lots of information about sloths is included in this book with multiple pictures.

Was this review helpful?

Destiny is a real-life three-fingered sloth who was rescued as a baby in the rainforests of Costa Rica, rehabilitated and eventually re-released to the wild. Despite losing one eye and being orphaned very young, she persevered and successfully learned how to 'sloth'. All of the photographs were taken by her caretaker at the Sloth Institute in Costa Rica, which the author visited in 2020.

Was this review helpful?

As an animal enthusiast I quite enjoyed this children's book on a one-eyed sloth called Destiny. The back matter really adds to the story and photographs as the behaviour and habits of the sloths are not anthropomorphised. Animal rescue work is not easy and I really admire and appreciate the work done by them. Would recommend for children who love animals.

Was this review helpful?

Amazing story of a rescued sloth named Destiny, in Costa Rican jungle. I learned a lot about sloth: that they are not actually lazy, but careful. Their habitat was diminished, due to people cutting up the trees for buildings and roads. So some got lost, injured or other mishap, and needed to be rescued properly, such as Destiny and her friends. Reading this book, though written for children, help us to understand the necessity of preserving animals' habitat and help them as much as we can.

Was this review helpful?

Destiny Finds Her Way: How a Rescued Baby Sloth Learned to Be Wild, written by Margarita Engle and with photography by Sam Trull, is currently scheduled for release on March 30 2023. Explore the Costa Rican rainforest with Destiny, a rescued orphan baby sloth who must learn to return to the wild, in this heartwarming true story from Newbery Honor winner Margarita Engle. Destiny must learn to be strong and confident after she loses the use of one of her eyes. Without her mother to protect her or teach her, Destiny is found and taken to a rescue center in Costa Rica. The little sloth soon befriends other orphaned sloths. Her poor eyesight, however, makes it hard for her to keep her balance. Eventually Destiny begins to use all of her senses to explore the world around her. But can she learn to climb? Can she master the other skills she needs to survive on her own? And will Destiny be brave enough to return to her wild, forest home?

Destiny Finds Her Way is a good telling of one sloth's care and release. I was happy to read the story and learn how this one sloth was rescued and rehabilitated, and I was very glad to find more sloth facts and resources for further reading at the back of the book. I think the book design and photographs chosen were very well done, the colors and placement of images and text captured and kept the attention. The only thing that I was not thrilled with was some of the text. Every now and then- particularly in the beginning- I think they were trying too hard to set the scene. I found some of the descriptions to be unneeded, since a cute baby sloth in need of help is more than enough to capture interest.

Was this review helpful?

A most suitable book – not only is it pitched very well indeed for the young intended readers, it has such a gentle nature it seems perfectly appropriate for it to be about a sloth. Don't get me wrong, things do happen and we're not left hanging for any movement in the story, but it feels almost languid and calming, much like the animals must seem. Here we are in a reserve, watching one orphaned sloth with a dodgy eye on its extended journey to the stage where it can be released to the world with all hopes of it being a successful adult sloth. Lovely photos from right there on the ground only add to the appeal, and if you don't have access to many books about how mammals are nursed, weaned, potty-trained and bulked up for survival, this is going to be an appealing early lesson in such things. Four and a half stars – I do feel the end-matter being so wordy and such a large section meant the volume was a little unbalanced.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Destiny is a sweet sloth who manages to become an independent lady, even with vision in just one eye. I enjoyed leaning about sloths once a week potty dances and why they are mossy. I did not know that it was a camouflage. Great book with lots of information about these slow little creatures

Was this review helpful?

Destiny the three toed sloth doesn't let anything stand in her way! Children will love the varied photographs of Destiny as she works her way from orphanhood to treetop relaxation. The writing is very descriptive of both Destiny and her surrounding environment, creating quite a visual. A must-read for those with a soft spot for animal rescue stories.

Was this review helpful?

The inspiring true story of Destiny the orphaned sloth is sure to inspire the animal lover in not only your child, but also yourself. Each page is filled with Destiny’s story and/or facts about sloths, their environment, or the animals they are typically around.

Thank you NetGalley and National Geographic for the opportunity to receive and review this title.

Was this review helpful?

Destiny Finds Her Way: How a Rescued Baby Sloth Learned to Be Wild
By Margarita Engle

What an adorable book! This author is fantastic anyway and it's a Nat Geo Kids book! The photos are just so cute and clear! Just want to hug the baby!

It tells of baby Destiny who was found on the ground and mom wouldn't take her. She is blind in one eye and how this was a problem trying to train her to climb. The photos and text follow Destiny from bottle feeding, learning to climb, meeting friends, pooping, all the way to release. Yes, pooping is a big deal to sloths.

Truly a precious book about a precious animal. Great way to introduce children to nature.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this gorgeous book!

Was this review helpful?

Destiny Finds Her Way is another wonderful book from National Geographic Kids. Margarita Engle has written engaging prose to go with the fantastic wildlife photography making this book excellent for a wide range of ages of children. My almost five year old really enjoyed reading this book with me and I enjoyed the alliterative language, nonfiction text features, and the simple but accurate scientific information. I think kids a bit younger and a bit older would also enjoy this one.

If you have a child who is a fan of animals, this is a great book. Destiny is a sloth who was rescued from the wild when she was very young when humans found her injured and alone. The book tells the story of her recovery and reintroduction to the wild. It is an uplifting story about how humans can interactive positively with the environment. I recommend checking this out for your child.

Was this review helpful?

This short book is packed full of information about sloths and what happens to those who have been rescued and are being rehabilitated. The photos on each page are gorgeous and show the sloths' personalities and activities.

I look forward to reading this with my 3rd grader. He is really into animals right now and I think he will enjoy learning about this.

The text is at an appropriate reading level for my 3rd grader and he should be able to read it himself. The layout of each page is attractive, with photos and text arranged in an aesthetically pleasing and easy to read manner that draws the eye around the page.

I would recommend this to any kid who loves animals or is interested in animal rescue. It would be great in an elementary school library or classroom library.

My kiddo did in fact really enjoy reading this one. He even chose to read most of it aloud (after bargaining for reading every other page while I read the rest) and was really into the story. He found all the sloth pictures very cute.

*Thanks to NetGalley and National Geographic Kids for providing an e-arc for review.

Was this review helpful?

Destiny Finds Her Way - How a Rescued Baby Sloth Learned to Be Wild by Margarita Engle is an excellent non-fiction story of physically challenged baby that never gives up. Destiny a young sloth that would not have survived without some help from a recuse center, learns to use her other senses to compensate for her poor eyesight.

My second grand granddaughter and I previewed this book together. She loved the photographs, the simple text and the way that Destiny’s personality shown through in both. A lesson in animal rescuing but also a lesson in perseverance, determination and learning new skills. A lesson that speaks to the reader. At least it did to us.

A wonderful book that is of interest to all but one that the second grader could also read on her own. It was a hit at our house.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

Was this review helpful?

I love sloth and I love a good rescue story. This book has both. I enjoyed the pictures and the mentions of other animals as well as the ending of the book were more things about sloths and where they come from can be learned. Great educational short book

Was this review helpful?

There are excellent real pictures, but A LOT of words per page. It may be too much for the targeted readers. I do not know if I would buy it for my classroom.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book about a Sloth. I think students in the younger grades would enjoy this journey and learning about Destiny.

Was this review helpful?

I love the photographs. If you love sloths, you need to get this book with the sweetest pictures of baby Destiny growing up and being released back into the wild. Honestly, I could just keep staring at the pictures. A wonderful engaging nonfiction picture book for young readers.

Was this review helpful?

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 list 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.

Was this review helpful?