Aye Aye and Fedor Show the Power of Friendship

Stories that feature animal characters are so prevalent in the children’s’ book section that in many libraries, they outnumber books with human protagonists. Kids love animals and always have; they tend to be able to connect to these furry or feathered creatures and identify with their curiosity and innocent view of the world. Kids also may find it easier to face fears and work out moral dilemmas when these challenges are seen through the eyes of a friendly non-human character.

Normally, these animal characters are anthropomorphic, meaning they can think, speak, dress and behave much the way humans do. Lately, however, there has been a trend toward animal characters that embody more of their authentic “real animal” selves, while still communicating thoughts and feelings that kids can understand. The Extraordinary Love Story of Aye Aye and Fedor is a heartwarming story that shows kids how “human” animals can be, and how important it is for us to protect them and their environments.

The book tells the story of Aye Aye, a lemur, and Fedor, a lion. While Aye Aye is free to run wild and enjoy the forest, Fedor is stuck in a zoo. The two strike up a friendship that helps them both make some important discoveries and launches them on a journey to places they never thought they’d go. Although the animals at the zoo have a difficult time in captivity, the story has a happy ending, thanks to the courage and quick thinking of Aye Aye and Fedor.

Author and illustrator Dr. Ana Isabel Ordonez is a renaissance woman who wants to share her love of the natural world with young readers. An educator, scientist and lecturer, Ordonez has traveled the world, enjoying varied cultural experiences and meeting interesting people and animals along the way. Thanks to her extensive education (Master’s and Ph.D.’s in genetics, forestry and animal biology), she has a strong base of knowledge when it comes to various animal species, making her books both educational and entertaining.

Ordonez’s goal when writing The Extraordinary Love Story of Aye Aye and Fedor was to show both the diversity and the similarities between members of the animal kingdom. She also wanted to communicate the idea that like humans, animals want to be happy, respected, safe and free. Aye Aye and Fedor’s journey is a great example of friendship and cooperation between friends who on the surface seem to be very different from one another, but who have similar goals and a desire to share their lives together.

Ordonez says, “With this children’s book series I want to bring happiness and awareness to others. I can touch people I don’t know. I also want to touch early readers with a unique love story filled with wisdom and to produce different volumes about a loving friendship that exists between threatened animals.” Both lemurs and white lions are rare and threatened species, so the book speaks to the important issue of appreciating and protecting endangered animals, a theme which is very popular among young people today.

The whimsical illustrations in this book will appeal to children because they look much like the colorful, bright, humorous drawings that many children enjoy making themselves. As an artist, Ordonez puts an emphasis on playfulness as well as on capturing the nature and spirit of each character. The overall effect is a book that kids will love and that parents will likely enjoy reading to their children. Readers who enjoy The Extraordinary Love Story of Aye Aye and Fedor should also keep an eye out for Ordonez’s follow-up books in the series, which will also deal with topics of animals and nature.

Contact the publisher for more information: www.rubyflowerpublishing.org/content/section/6/62/