Ninita's Big World: The True Story of a Deaf Pygmy Marmoset

K-Gr 3—Marsh does a wonderful job telling the story of Ninita, a deaf pygmy marmoset, and how she interacts with the world around her. The plot of this book is simple, showing how Ninita was abandoned by her parents, how the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation (RSCF) raised her, and how she became friends with her caretakers, and eventually, other marmosets. The story, both educational and emotional, allows readers to learn more information about marmosets and Ninita through various context clues and images. Coleman's illustrations are adorable and help highlight Ninita's emotions at certain points of the story. They also help create the world around Ninita, so that readers can begin to understand the scope of her surroundings versus the world she wants to explore. Readers can learn more information about pygmy marmosets at the end of the book through both a detailed author's note and a fun facts page. While Marsh is not a scientist, she has clearly done her research and worked with the RSCF in order to deliver a story that is factual, enjoyable, and emotional. Marsh's enthusiasm for Ninita is evident throughout, and she and Coleman have created a narrative that will crawl into your heart with a smile and a small toothbrush.