2015 winner Schneider Family Book Award.
Alan can hardly talk. When he opens his mouth he struggles and stutters so much that he is labeled a disruption at school. He feels broken and alone. Except when he speaks to animals, then Alan is quite vocal and plans to use his ability to speak to the animals to one day be their champion. After seeing his favorite animal, a jaguar, enclosed in a small bare cage at the Bronx Zoo Alan promises all the animals that if he ever finds his voice he will be their voice and keep them from harm. As he grows Alan finds his voice and keeps his promise. He fights for animal rights, especially the rights of jaguars. Alan eventually fights and wins to establish the world's first and only jaguar preserve.
A wonderful story about overcoming obstacles, A boy and a jaguar can inspire any kid struggle with speech problems to continue to reach for their dreams. Speech impairments are often overlooked when speaking about disabilities and this book would be a wonderful way to begin a conversation about them with young students. As it is an autobiography it is also an excellent introduction to that genre as well.
To find more literature featuring characters with speech impairments readers can go to https://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster/Bookstore/childrensbooks.html to find a list of titles.
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