Creatures with Features

Illustrations: 

Philipp Yeboah

Ditte Bax 

Nadia Oude Reimer

Florien van der Linden 

Audio book: 

Philipp Yeboah

Ditte Bax 

Nadia Oude Reimer

Florien van der Linden

DBE Project 2021 - Year 1 - NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences

* All the words that are bold, are found in the glossary on pages 24 to 26.

Dear reader, 

We are four students from the International Teacher Education for primary schools, in Meppel. For our study we created this book, connected to the theme of Human Rights. Everyone should feel save to be theirselves and be proud about who and what they are. 

We want to thank our coach Grada Okken and our family and friends for all the support. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this book.

Kind regards, 

Philipp, Ditte, Nadia and Florien

Somewhere far away in the Savanna of West Africa, close to the drinking river and underneath one of the Baobab trees, a little male lion named Loki is waiting patiently for the group of hunters to be ready to leave. He has been counting the hours with excitement at the thought of going hunting for the first time. When he spots the lionesses of the pride go off he runs towards them. 

“I am available to go hunting as well! Can I please come with you?” He says desperately. The group of lionesses abruptly stops and is silent for a few seconds. Then the group bursts out in laughter. “You want to come hunting? You are a boy, don’t be ridiculous! You have to stay home, because you are too noticeable for the prey.” Loki growls while he sees the big group walk away. 

One of the lionesses that also went hunting is Leone. She overheard the conversation that Loki had with the others. She was a bit surprised by the whole encounter and it is still on her mind. He does know that he is too noticeable for the prey, right?, she thinks. Can we not find ways to teach him to be more invisible? Maybe we can… Her friend then interrupts her train of thoughts, saying that she needs to hurry up, because the pride of hunters are leaving. 

This is unfair, Loki thinks. I shouldn’t be treated differently just because I am a lion and not a lioness. The more he thinks about this, the more determined he gets. You know what?! Even though I am noticeable, I can still hunt and I will prove this to them. Loki gets up and goes off on his own.

All around him, Loki sees an empty Savanna. Then, in the corner of his eye, he sees a movement on the horizon and realizes it is a gazelle, in other words a delicious prey.

Loki gets excited for this opportunity. He keeps an eye on the gazelle and then slowly approaches his target. Once he is close enough he starts to get ready for the sprint to attack his prey, but then he notices that the gazelle is crying. 

This throws him off and he trips over a small branch. The gazelle has now noticed him and gets scared. Before she runs off, Loki calls after her: “Hey, don’t be scared! I won’t attack you. Who are you and why are you crying?”

With a suspicious look on her face the gazelle stands still while Loki slowly approaches her. “My name is Gaya. My herd is laughing at me, because my coat looks different than everybody elses,” the gazelle says. Loki feels sympathy towards the gazelle, because he recognizes the feeling of not fitting in. He wants to defend and comfort Gaya. 

“Even though you might look different, you are still worthy of receiving as much respect, love and care as the other gazelles in your herd. It is not right that they are laughing at you. Why should you change, while the issue lies with them?” Loki says.

Gaya looks perplexed at this comment. She then dries her tears and comes closer to the lion. She nods in agreement and says: “You got a good point there, but what can I do?’’. A big smile emerges on Loki’s face, ‘’Maybe there is something we can do to address everyone in the Savanna that doesn’t treat others rightfully.’’ 

Some time later another animal comes across Loki and Gaya. The pair is still in the midst of their conversation, talking about ideas for a plan. The animal approaching is an old crocodile that is on his way to the drinking river. When he sees the peculiar pair together he stops and asks them what they are doing. The animals tell him what is happening and his expression shows recognition. 

“My name is Chibuzo. Let me tell you a little story,” the crocodile says. “When I was younger, I used to care a lot about what other people thought of me and I wanted to fit in. However, I have always felt bad about eating meat and I didn’t want to do it anymore. When I told my friends and family I wanted to become a vegetarian, they weren’t supportive of it and they told me to be normal like the rest of them. I adjusted myself for years trying to please them, but then I realized I shouldn’t have to. That is when I officially became a vegetarian and therefore happier. Even though most crocodiles don’t understand, I will keep being myself.”

As Chibuzo is telling his story, Loki and Gaya admire his bravery. 

Loki and Gaya relate to Chibuzo’s story, as they both have to adapt to the liking of the other animals, even though they just want to be themselves. Then they tell him that they want to come up with a plan to stand up for everyone who doesn't fit the norm.

“I might be able to help you with that,” Chibuzo says.

On the other side of the Savanna, Leone comes back from hunting with the other lionesses. While hunting she came up with ways so that Loki could join the hunt next time. She is excited to tell Loki about this, but she can't find him. 

Leone is starting to get worried after searching for a while. Let's hope that he doesn't do anything crazy, she thinks.  

When Leone can’t find Loki at the lion's rock, she decides to have a look at the drinking river. There she runs into Chibuzo the crocodile.''Did you happen to see my friend Loki? He ran away,'' she asks him. Chibuzo starts laughing. ‘’They are next to the big Buffalo thorn tree in the middle of the open landscape of grasslands. Take as many others of your pride with you when you go there,‘’ Chibuzo says. Leone is confused but doesn’t ask any further questions, while she quickly runs away to gather the other lions and lionesses. 

In the meantime Chibuzo is spreading the word about the plan all around the Savanna, which brings all kinds of animals to join Loki and Gaya. They feel the same as Loki and Gaya and felt the need to be heard.