Orangutan Houdini

by Laurel Neme, Kathie Kelleher (Illustrator)

Overview

This is the true story of Fu Manchu, an adult male orangutan, who relishes outsmarting his friend, zookeeper Jerry Stones. He does just that when he escapes his enclosure at will and spends sunny days with the elephants in another part of the zoo. At first Jerry believes his staff's carelessness allowed the crafty ape to get out. But when that assumption proves wrong, he launches an all-out surveillance mission to discover how Fu manages his getaways. Jerry soon discovers that Fu can open the locked door, but can't figure out how he does it. The zookeeper removes every twig and stick that could be used as a lock pick, but Fu continues to escape. Eventually, Fu reveals to Jerry how he did it, and is rewarded with honorary membership in the American Association of Locksmiths.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781593731533
Publisher:	Bunker Hill Publishing Inc
Publication date:	10/08/2014
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	6 - 18 Years

About the Author

Laurel Neme has camped in the Kalahari, searched for peregrine falcons in the Arctic, and gotten lost in the Amazon jungle with the Brazilian Federal Police, all in pursuit of knowledge and a good story. She often uncovers true animal tales, like this one, that strike her funny bone while providing insights into a species. She is a contributor to National Geographic and author of ANIMAL INVESTIGATORS.Orangutan Houdini is her first book for children.

Kathie Kelleher is descended from a long line of talented and interesting characters, from bell-helmeted deep sea divers to Cape Breton bagpipers. As a young child, Kathie enjoyed hearing the family tales. Some tall, some small. All entertaining. She studied at the Paier College of Art in New Haven, CT under such luminaries as Dean Keller, Ken Davies and John Massimino. She has illustrated several books including Willow's Walkabout: A Children's Guide to Boston. 

Editorial Reviews

"Orangutan Houdini the children's picturebook adaptation of a true story about an ape escape artist! Fu Manchu was an adult male orangutan with an uncanny talent for picking locks and evading his zookeeper, Jerry Stones. Fu Manchu never hurt a soul on his escapades; he qimply enjoyed the chance to climb trees in the sunshine. For his talent at concealing and using a makeshift lockpick he was awarded an honorary membership in the American Association of Locksmiths! A brief, two-page author's note at the close of the story offers more details about Fu Manchu's remarkable life. Colorful illustrations enrich this amazing tale that primate fans young and old can share and enjoy." — Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher

Orangutan Houdini the children's picturebook adaptation of a true storyabout an ape escape artist! Fu Manchu was an adult male orangutan withan uncanny talent for picking locks and evading his zookeeper, JerryStones. Fu Manchu never hurt a soul on his escapades; he qimplyenjoyed the chance to climb trees in the sunshine. For his talent atconcealing and using a makeshift lockpick he was awarded an honorarymembership in the American Association of Locksmiths! A brief,two-page author's note at the close of the story offers more details aboutFu Manchu's remarkable life. Colorfulf illustrations enrich this amazingtale that primate fans youngwmd old c4 shale and eljoy.

Midwest Book Review

2014-07-17
Orangutan Fu Manchu makes a monkey out of his zookeepers. Twelve-year-old orangutan Fu Manchu lives with his family group in a zoo enclosure. After obtaining a length of wire, he figures out how to pick the lock on the door. He lets his family out, and they climb the trees above the elephant corral to enjoy the sun and the leaves. Their afternoon siesta doesn't last long. Jerry, the head zookeeper, blames his staff for leaving the door unlocked and then returns Fu and his family to the enclosure. The next nice day, they escape again. Jerry and his staff double-check the locks, but Fu has his secret piece of wire. He can escape whenever he wants to, and he does. Jerry continues to blame his staff until they band together and catch Fu using something to pick the lock. But what is it? They can't find anything he might have used in his pen…until Jerry spies a glint of metal in Fu's mouth. Neme's debut for children is based on a true story and a real ape, though she says in an author's note that some details are speculation—not the least of which are Fu's thoughts and motivations. Kelleher's watercolors are realistic enough with a few cartoon touches: A panicked chipmunk and pigeon observe Fu's initial escape. An interesting exploration of animal intelligence for budding zoologists, so long as they take the anthropomorphization with a grain of salt. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews