Washington, D.C. — Born Free USA, a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation, has announced the long-awaited second printing of its popular children’s book, Lucky. Written in 2004 and inspired by real events, the book tells the story of Lucky the parrot, who is captured in the wild and eventually regains his freedom with the help of a young Indonesian boy. The story encourages readers to be kind to animals and have a deeper understanding of the plight of captive birds. [teaserbreak]
For the holiday season and National Bird Day, Born Free USA is including a plush toy bird with each Lucky purchase through December 30, 2014. All proceeds from the sale of the book benefit avian welfare, rescue, and conservation through the Avian Welfare Coalition and Born Free USA.
According to Adam M. Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA, “This story is breathtaking and a must-read for families who want to spark a conversation with their kids about animal welfare, captive wildlife, and the plight of birds. Without being preachy, the book shows that wild birds are never meant to be kept in a cage, and how children can make a difference. We are proud to be releasing this book again and know it will touch the hearts of animal lovers and future conservationists.”
Lucky (ISBN #978-0-615-19395-3; 36 pages; 10″ x 11″) was written by Monica Engebretson with illustrations by Melodee Strong. The book is $25 with a plush toy bird included, and available at www.bornfreeusa.org/lucky.
January 5, 2015 is the 13th annual National Bird Day, when Born Free USA, in conjunction with Avian Welfare Coalition, focuses on issues critical to the protection and survival of captive and wild birds. The annual initiative features education and action to stop the international trade in wild birds, raises awareness about standards of care for birds who have been adopted as pets, and pushes for a deeper respect and understanding about the plight of all birds.
Born Free USA is a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Through litigation, legislation, and public education, Born Free USA leads vital campaigns against animals in entertainment, exotic “pets,” trapping and fur, and the destructive international wildlife trade. Born Free USA brings to America the message of “compassionate conservation” — the vision of the U.K.-based Born Free Foundation, established in 1984 by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of the iconic film Born Free, along with their son Will Travers. Born Free’s mission is to end suffering of wild animals in captivity, conserve threatened and endangered species, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. More at www.bornfreeusa.org, www.twitter.com/bornfreeusa, and www.facebook.com/bornfreeusa.
Media Contact: Rodi Rosensweig, 203/270-8929, therodicompany@gmail.com