Looking for Miza
#1 in The Miza Series
illustrations by
on Goodreads (96)
What’s inside...
Miza is a baby gorilla living in the Congo's Virunga National Park. Like any other baby gorilla, Miza spends her days riding on her mother's back, playing, and taking naps. One day, while searching for food with her mother, Miza's mother disappears, leaving her frightened and alone. Miza's father, Kabirizi, a fierce silverback and leader of Virunga's largest family of mountain gorillas, along with the dedicated Congolese rangers, set out on a desperate search to find Miza. This true story highlights the importance of conservation and the strong bonds of gorilla families.
Discussion points
How do you think Miza felt when she was separated from her family? What would you do if you were in her situation?
What can we learn about the importance of family and community from Miza's story?
Why is it important to protect endangered animals like the mountain gorillas?
How do the actions of humans affect the lives of animals in the wild?
What are some ways we can help endangered animals like Miza from our own home?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage empathy by asking your child to put themselves in Miza's shoes, discussing feelings and actions they might have in similar situations.
Highlight the importance of teamwork and community by discussing how the characters in the book work together to achieve common goals.
Use the story as an opportunity to educate your child about conservation and the impact of human activities on wildlife.
Promote critical thinking by discussing the decisions made by characters in the book and asking your child what they would have done differently.
Stir curiosity by exploring more about mountain gorillas and other endangered species, perhaps watching documentaries or visiting a zoo that focuses on conservation.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and compassion
Explanation: In 'Looking for Miza', children journey with Miza, a baby gorilla, who becomes separated from her family. The story illustrates themes of caring and empathy as characters work together to reunite Miza with her family.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these lessons by showing understanding and compassion towards their peers, helping friends in distress, and learning to support others emotionally.
Example Lesson: Importance of teamwork
Explanation: The search for Miza requires animals to collaborate and leverage their individual strengths. This cooperation highlights how teamwork can overcome obstacles.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of working cooperatively in group settings such as school projects or sports teams, understanding that collective efforts often yield better results.
Example Lesson: Conservation and environmental awareness
Explanation: Miza's story is set against the backdrop of the endangered gorillas' habitat, which introduces young readers to the concept of environmental conservation.
Real-World Application: This book inspires children to learn more about endangered species and the environment, possibly encouraging them to participate in or support conservation efforts.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of adversity
Explanation: Despite the dangers and challenges, the characters in the story demonstrate persistence and resilience, important qualities that help them navigate through tough situations.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to adopt a resilient mindset, which can help them face their own challenges in daily life, from tackling difficult school subjects to dealing with personal setbacks.
Example Lesson: The role of community support
Explanation: The story shows that the community can play a crucial role in solving problems, as various groups come together to search for Miza.
Real-World Application: This can teach children the value of community involvement and encourage them to actively participate and contribute to their own communities.