The Jaguar’s Story, a children’s book written by Kosa Ely (Kosarupa Dasi) and beautifully illustrated by Radhe Gendron, has received two prestigious awards this week. 

The book, which tells a charming story about two young Jaguar cubs in the Amazon rainforest, received the Gold Medal for Children’s Environmental Books from the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards 2018.

Moonbeam’s awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to celebrate children’s books and life-long reading. 

The Jaguar’s Story also won the Book of the Year for Children’s Illustrated Fiction in an international contest held by the Independent Author’s Network (IAN).

“Our book was chosen out of thousands of entries,” Kosarupa says.  

Kosarupa Dasi is a disciple of Srila Prabhupada who is married to kirtan artist Badahari Das. Her previous children’s books includeThe Prince and the Polestar, wherein the young Dhruva Maharaja learns the value of spiritual fulfillment over acquiring material possessions; and The Peaceable Forest, about the hunter Mrgari, who learns from the sage Narada about how his actions affect other living beings.

The Jaguar’s Story describes how Jaguars are losing their rainforest home because of human’s selfish destructiveness. It isn’t a retelling of a scriptural text, but its message instills values in children about caring for mother Earth that are intrinsic to Krishna consciousness.

“Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord,” reads the first verse of Sri Isopanisad. “One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.” 

The illustrations in a Jaguar’s Story are by second generation devotee Radhe Gendron, who grew up in New Mayapur, France and began painting at the age of four. Vibrant and completely entrancing, they pull the reader into the world of the Amazon and make the story come alive.

“I’m grateful and happy that Radhe and I received these awards for The Jaguar’s Story,” says Kosarupa. “We poured our hearts into creating this book, and we’re eager for it to reach millions of children with its message. With these awards librarians, school teachers, and moms and dads will know The Jaguar’s Story is a quality book their children will love.”