Set in Tanzania in the African Savannah, we meet Gilly, who is an unusually tall giraffe with wonderful bright mosaic spots all over her body, unlike the other giraffes. These two traits make her feel different, and while there is much to love in her life, some of the other animals tease her and make fun of her differences. She tries ways of making herself acceptable - mud covering her bright patches, crouching and stooping to make herself shorter - but nothing helps. It is only when Lorna the Lioness comes on the scene and sees the problem that she is able to explain to Gilly that it is her differences that make her special and cool, that everyone is special in his/her own individual way. Gilly' brings colour and fun into the greenness of the trees'... 'and she is 'so kind and caring.' She compares Gilly's differences to a Baobab tree and a rainbow where all the different colours fit together and become 'magical'. Gilly is led to begin to think about things she is good at like making a friend laugh, or painting with mud', or having 'super sharp eyes', and Lorna suggests that Gilly fills a 'treasure chest' with all those special things about herself. At school the next day (Acacia Academy), both the teacher and Gilly's classmates spend time thinking of other ways that Gilly is special and come up with a lot more 'positive treasures' for the chest, and she becomes 'special and happy'. Lovely bright pictures and cuddly animals make this story a 'treasure' too. There is a colour-in page of Gilly at the end of the book and also a list of questions to be mulled over with a parent or carer. Charming and gentle. Available from Amazon, from book shops, and from the publisher: www.jkp.com.