A compelling new story book, The Rimba, aiming to support classrooms in teaching compassion, conservation and global citizenship, has been authored by retired Cornwall teacher Jane Griffiths. Her efforts have drawn acclaim from several high-profile voices, including Michaela Strachan and the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation.
Blending lyrical poetry with narrative storytelling, The Rimba follows the journey of a wise orangutan, the soulful guardian of the rainforest, who rises to protect her home and the creatures that depend on it. Inspired by the environmental spirit of The Lorax, the book helps children explore themes of kindness, cooperation, and the impact of their choices on the natural world.
Author, Jane Griffiths, is passionate about palm oil, championing the message that avoiding palm oil altogether was not the best solution; choosing sustainable palm oil was a much better option. As Jane explains “The destruction caused by the palm oil deforestation is heartbreaking and led me to examine my buying habits. However, I knew this wouldn’t be enough to make a real impact so, after much research, I gave talks at local schools, met with managers at Newquay Zoo, and helped Newquay on its journey to become a sustainable palm oil town. It became a passion and led to the creation of ‘The Rimba’.”
The Rimba has certainly made its mark. Wildlife TV presenter Michaela Stachan was blown away, explaining “ ‘ Rimba is a beautifully written book, evocative, poignant and heart breaking but has a powerful message of hope about sustainable palm oil growing. I hope, with all my heart, that the message in this poem, about palm oil becoming deforestation free, becomes a reality.”
These sentiments are echoed by Michelle Desilets, a conservationist who founded the Orangutan Land Trust and formerly led Borneo Orangutan Survival UK. She says that “‘’ The Rimba’ is a must have for every home with children and every school library. It magically weaves a poetic story and richly atmospheric illustrations with a thought-provoking lesson on your shared responsibility to protect the planet and the species that call it home. The message that “The Rimba’ imparts captures my own feelings as an orangutan conservationist.”
Not only does ‘The Rimba’ promote conservation through words, but uniquely, 100% of proceeds support carefully selected orangutan charities, including Cornwall based, OVAID. Schools and families purchasing the book directly contribute to real-world preservation and help amplify the work of local authors and illustrators.
The Rimba is available now online at Amazon, and other major online book shops like Waterstones and Foyles. Schools, educators, and media are invited to reach out for review copies, interviews, or support promoting the book via social media.
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