Penny Pangolin and the Missing Ant Cake

Yay! My child and I have never read a book with a pangolin as the MC. This proved to be a good first. It is not a long book and is suitable for all ages of kids, especially for those in their first 1-4 years of primary school. Yet, despite its length, it had two unexpected turns for us. This is a unique book that gives its characters agency and it deals with themes such as jealousy, adversaries, sharing, forgiveness, acceptance and ants. Save the pangolins! (Written for a great cause too).

The style of the pictures were easy to anticipate from the cover. This is not a style I personally like, though, it exceeded my expectations and I see why it was chosen as a style for this book series. It suits it. The pangolins, their life, and the vividness are depicted well via it. The font is cool too. My child said “this book is awesome”.

Penny Pangolin and the Missing Ant Cake is an appealing and colorful illustrated book for kids by Wayne D. Kramer. Released 13th March 2023, it's 32 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books featuring Penny and friends are also currently available on KU.

This is a fun short story with a mystery. When Penny's baked lemon ant cake goes missing, she and her friend Vin go looking for clues to solve the mystery. The book is peppered throughout with small illustrated details and interesting background species of plants and animals in Penny's neighborhood.

The art by Jade Zivanovic is rendered electronically and is balanced, whimsical, colorful, and appealing. The drawings are full of small details which invite readers to pause and take a closer look. In fact, the author/illustrator have hidden some animals and items in the pictures scattered throughout the book which invite readers to page through and find later.

It's not just a fun anthropomorphic animal adventure, the author has included information about species conservation (they're critically endangered in the wild) and the importance of helping protect wildlife and nature. They've provided links for further reading and a QR code for more content.

Four stars. Really cute short story with some good messages. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gift giving.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Vin was visiting Penny, and she wanted to impress him, and baked a wonderful cake. Now the question was, where is it? now that Vin had arrived, the cake was missing.

This is such a gorgeous story and a great example of friendship and why it matters. It was also the first time I ever considered the idea of a lemon ant cake. The illustrations are delightful and a perfect accompaniment to the book. I know very little about Pangolins so this was fun even reading as an adult! Thanks for making this book available

Penny is happy about a friend coming to visit so she and Mum bake their favorite cake. But when the friend gets there, there are only crumbs left! They find that the culprit has gone into the dangerous jungle with it and they all learn a lesson in forgiveness and sharing. I still think that these books are so much better in print!
The illustrations by Jade Zivanovic are fun, intricate, brilliantly colorful, and delightful.
Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school or your local public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on PDF from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley. Thank you!
@wildnetorg @SavePangolins #QRCodeResources

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This is another children's book that reminded me of the books I read as a child, and I know I would've enjoyed this book as a youngster as well. It was pretty easy to follow and the illustrations were fun. I would read this to my child if I had one.

Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Part of the Penny Pangolin and Friends series, Penny Pangolin and the Missing Ant Cake is another cute story involving the scaly anteater.

In this book, we are introduced to Edit Aardvark, Penny’s neighbor who is another animal that shares a love of ants. Ants being both the aardvark’s and anteater’s favorite food.

With cute illustrations, young ones will learn about forgiveness, and sharing. There’s also some education information regarding the pangolin’s endangerment status, which I found to be very informative.

Penny Pangolin and the Missing Ant Cake is sure to please the young ones with cute characters and a fun story. Five stars.

I was invited to read a DRC from BooksGoSocial through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

Super cute read. I loved that it was educational and fun. This is my second Penny Pangolin book and I will be purchasing it for my son.

I learned something about Pangolins. First of all, I did not know their existence and of course the special way they protect themselves.

Penny Pangolin was expecting a special friend Vin. She had wanted to do something special for Vin and it required ants. However, her neighbor Edith was very upset that Penny was taking all the ants. Edith in her anger did something terrible. Edith had taken the gift for herself.

Their story speaks on forgiveness, anger, and being a friend to our enemy. Great lessons that Pangolins can teach us.

A special thank you to Books go Social and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Another story about anteaters and this one also includes an Aardvark. I hadn’t realised their under-representation in children’s books until now. The book also includes some facts at the back and ways to bring awareness to these animals.

I read this to my children (4 and 6) who both enjoyed the story. This time Penny is making a lemon cake, but it gets stollen and then ruined. All is ok in the end as the friends get together and make another one.

The story was ok and the illustrations were detailed and lovely. My children seemed to enjoy the escapades of this double/trio.

A cute and colourful story about Penny and her neighbour Edit Aardvark. The art is beautiful and gives the story a lovely whimsical feel. This story sends a great message about forgiveness and sharing and provides lots of interesting facts

This is the second book in the series I have read. Pennys friend Vin is coming to visit and Penny and Mom make a lemon ant cake. I must be honest before reading this book I did not know what a Pangolin was and that they are in danger of extinction. This is a cute first mystery for young ones to try to figure out. Illustrations are beautiful and sure to appeal to children. As previously I like the added look and find and facts at the end of the book.

Penny Pangolin and the Missing Ant Cake is a story that contains so many lessons for kids to learn. Not only is there some science to discover, there is a great message about community and sharing as well. This is definitely a great story to share with budding scientists and animal lovers.

This is part of an adorable series. If I had children, I would definitely purchase the series for a home library. The illustrations are creative and enchanting. I’m getting attached to Penny and her friends and families. There’s also good life lessons in these books. I was given a free review copy from NetGalley, and I’m expressing my own opinion. Looking forward to the next one. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Heroes of Time Productions for the opportunity to read "Penny Pangolin And The Missing Ant Cake" in exchange for my honest review.

This is another wonderful addition to this series. The story in intended for the 4 to 8 year old age group but I think younger children might enjoy it equally. The characters are adorable, the illustrations are colourful and eye-catching. You like them as soon as you see them.

This story is about thoughtfulness and forgiveness. When Penny finds out that her friend Vin will be visiting she asks her mum to bake a lemon ant cake. She gathers all the ingredients and they bake the cake together. Edith Aardvark who was mad at Penny for picking all the ants steals the cake. When Vin and Penny are attacked by a black panther, they are able to save themselves because of their protective scales. They decide that even though Edith stole Penny's cake, they can't leave her alone in the jungle because she can't protect herself.

Penny tells a surprised Edith that neighbours look out for each other. They gather more ingredients and bake another cake together as friends.

The book has information on Pangolins at the end and helps children find various forms of wildlife in the story.

‘Penny Pangolin and the Missing Ant Cake’ by Wayne D. Kramer is another delightful instalment in the Penny Pangolin series. With an engaging plot, charming characters, and beautiful illustrations, this book is sure to captivate young readers and keep them entertained from start to finish.

Plot: ★★★★☆
The plot of ‘Penny Pangolin and the Missing Ant Cake’ is very cute and engaging. Penny embarks on an exciting adventure to find the missing ant cake, encountering various challenges and surprises along the way. The story is well-crafted and keeps children interested with its blend of mystery and fun.

Character: ★★★★★
The characters in this book are truly adorable. Penny Pangolin continues to be a lovable and relatable protagonist, and the new characters she meets during her quest add depth and charm to the story. Children will enjoy following Penny's journey and rooting for her as she solves the mystery.

Illustrations: ★★★★★
The illustrations in ‘Penny Pangolin and the Missing Ant Cake’ are absolutely gorgeous. The art style is stunning, with vibrant colours and intricate details that bring the story to life. Each page is a visual delight, enhancing the narrative and making the book a joy to read.

Engagement: ★★★★☆
This is quite an engaging story. The mystery of the missing ant cake keeps young readers hooked, and the various twists and turns in the plot add excitement. The combination of a relatable protagonist and an intriguing storyline ensures that children will be eager to see how the mystery unfolds.

Readability: ★★★★☆
The readability of this book is fantastic. The language is simple and accessible, making it easy for young readers to follow along. The story flows smoothly, and the text is well-matched to the illustrations, ensuring a cohesive and enjoyable reading experience.

Enjoyment: ★★★★☆
‘Penny Pangolin and the Missing Ant Cake’ is a very enjoyable read for children. The combination of a cute plot, adorable characters, and beautiful illustrations makes it a book that young readers will love. Penny's adventure is heartwarming and fun, leaving a lasting impression on those who read it.

‘Penny Pangolin and the Missing Ant Cake’ by Wayne D. Kramer is a delightful children's book that offers a charming story and stunning artwork. Penny's quest to find the missing ant cake is both engaging and heartwarming, making it a perfect read for young children. With its adorable characters and beautiful illustrations, this book is sure to become a favourite on any child's bookshelf.