James Sellick Books

A message-based picture book originating from a viral Greenpeace film that highlighted the plight of orangutans, the dangers of deforestation and the misuse of palm oil.

A little girl discovers a cheeky Rang-tan causing chaos at home. At first, she orders the Rang-tan to go away, but she soon realises that he has a story to tell and she stops to listen. The Rang-tan explains how its real home in the rainforest is being destroyed by humans – with trees being burned down in order to extract palm oil for making human products shampoo and chocolate. Horrified by what she has heard, the little girl takes action immediately and, in doing so, informs the reader of positive steps they could take to help make a difference to the Rang-tan’s habitat.

Beautifully illustrated, ‘There’s a Rang-Tan in my Bedroom’ is charming and enjoyable as a story for younger children while remaining clear and unapologetic in its message about a real danger to the natural world. Frann Preston-Gannon’s illustrations powerfully juxtapose images of the fragility of the Rang-tan – with its adorable large eyes and childlike poses appealing to the girl for protection – alongside unhappy scenes of the destruction of the rainforest habitat causing a whole host of animals to flee.

Extra information about palm oil production and ideas for helping orangutans – including how to write a campaign letter – are included at the end of the book, so that positive action is a logical step for those moved by the story’s message.