Children have a natural connection to animals: visiting zoos, sleeping with stuffed animals, taking care of pets, watching animated films, observing them in the wild. A familiarity with animals encourages curiosity. It is not surprising that children-with their extraordinary imaginations-often wonder what it would be like to be the animal they have seen in the zoo or the woods, or on a farm. I Don't Want to Be a Giraffe is a picture book for pre-readers and beginning readers. Through the playful artwork, they will discover the drawbacks of being a variety of animals. It includes four pages of "conversation starters," useful in engaging children in further discussion. In the end, children will see that it is good to be who we are.