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Zippy's Special Gift

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Mom’s Choice Award®️Winner (Gold) and Recipient of Five-Star Readers’ Favorite Book Review Zippy the Zebra doesn't like her stripes. She doesn't want to stand out! Follow Zippy as she embarks upon a thrilling adventure with her animal friends that helps her realize everyone is perfect just the way they are. Profits from the sales of Zippy's Special Gift will be donated to one of Zebra Technologies strategic charitable partners, Bernies Book Bank, a non-profit organization that changes the story for under-served children and helps them read their way to a better life!

38 pages, Hardcover

Published March 2, 2021

30 people want to read

About the author

Therese Van Ryne

1 book7 followers

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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Heba.
1,256 reviews3,113 followers
November 20, 2025
Zippy is a young zebra, one day asked her mother i don't like my strips..
she said, your strips are your special gift, ask your friends & they will tell you about their special gifts. At end of his journey, he will realize that every one has his own special gift that makes him different...makes him who he is...
i loved this warm sweet story so much 🩷🩷
Profile Image for Cheryl.
6,673 reviews238 followers
March 7, 2021
I loved this book so much. Zippy is special. Although, so are all of her friends as Zippy learned. The thing that Zippy did not like about herself were her stripes, she learned they are what make her so special. This book teaches young children that we are all different but special in our own special way. In other words...self acceptance. What we may view as a flaw in ourselves is not one one after all. This is a recommended read for sure.
Profile Image for Gina  Rae Mitchell.
1,370 reviews104 followers
March 25, 2021
Zippy’s Special Gift is a delightful story about self-acceptance and love.

Zippy is a young zebra that doesn’t like her stripes. Her wise mother explains stripes are Zippy’s special gift. She sends Zippy out to question friends about their unique gifts.

It turns out everyone has doubts about themselves, but our differences make each of us unique and special.

The words are easy to read and follow along with for early readers. I believe it’s never too young to start teaching tolerance of differences between people...and animals in this case.

Walter Policelli’s illustrations are bright, colorful, and exceptionally well-done.

Therese Van Ryne’s debut book is a “special gift” to the reading world. I hope to see many more tales of Zippy’s world.



I received a copy of the book for a blog tour. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for BreeAnn (She Just Loves Books).
1,444 reviews119 followers
March 19, 2021
This book was absolutely adorable! I really loved the focus on accepting what makes you special and seeing what is special about others! Children will enjoy the fun way this message is told through Zippy and his animal friends!

Zippy is a zebra that doesn’t like her stripes! As we journey with her through the book though, we learn that her stripes make her special, and that we each have something that makes us special too. This was a book that both of my kids were really interested in. They enjoyed learning about what made each of Zippy’s friends unique!

The illustrations are quite fun. They are bright and almost look like stuffed animals. My son really loves zebras and he wants a stuffed animal version of Zippy now!

Overall, this is one that will make you feel special about yourself and those around you. It is a great message for children, and all of us really!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Cover Lover Book Review.
1,509 reviews87 followers
March 12, 2021
Zippy’s Special Gift is a fun and uplifting adventure story that shares a sweet message of embracing our differences. It’s a cute tale that gives you all the warm fuzzies.

Initially, Zippy the zebra doesn’t like her stripes, but after visiting with her friends, she realizes everyone has special gifts, and our unique qualities and appearances should be celebrated.

The rhyming narration is fun, the lively illustrations are engaging, and the theme of acceptance is so meaningful. I love that profits are donated to a children’s charity, making the book all the more special.

Dɪsᴄʟᴏsᴜʀᴇ: I ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʀʏ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ. Mʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛ ɪɴғʟᴜᴇɴᴄᴇᴅ.
Profile Image for  Jody Reads Smut.
1,129 reviews258 followers
March 5, 2021
This is Therese Van Ryne’s debut book, which has a wonderful message about us all being different, and that we all have our own special gift to make us shine. The talented Walter Policelli illustrates Zippy’s Special Gift. There are varieties of animals that will capture the attention of young readers, and they will have no problem following along with the story. I enjoyed this book immensely, and I do believe all young and old will enjoy this story as well.

I would like to thank the author and iRead Book Tours for the review copy in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Profile Image for Jed Doherty.
45 reviews12 followers
March 30, 2021
Every child is unique with their own talents, interests, personalities, and physical appearance. Zippy’s Special Gift, a children’s picture book written by Therese Van Ryne that celeberates uniqueness in kids. It’s a beautifully illustrated book for ages 5-10. Letting children know that their differences are what make them special can be a challenging message to get through when the world is telling them otherwise. Hearing stories about the charachters who are different from the crowd can help. Zippy’s Special Gift shows kids why it’s ok to be different and let their uniquness shine.

The book follows the story of a young and playful Zebra named Zippy who had many friends like Duck, owl, frog, Dog, and Monkey. But Zippy doesn’t like her stripes as this makes her feel different from her other animal friends. She tells her mother that she wants to look like her friends. Her mother explains that Zippy’s stripes are her special gift and should be celebrated. She further tells Zippy that each one of us is unique and all her friends have special gifts too that make them different from each other. She advises her to embrace and love her special gift. In the end, Zippy learns that her stripes are what make her unique and her special gift from God.

The animals in this book are all very different and although they do not like their specific feature they soon realize these differences are the special gifts that make them unique! Some have webbed feet, others can make sounds like a hoot, while one of his friends can take a leap.

The message? Differences are a cause for celebration! And the novelty items–
like tail, zebra stripes, webbed feet of a duck–add to the fun.

We love this particular rhyme from the book –

“Now I know why I have my stripes,”
Zippy said as her voice rang true.”

“These stripes are my
special gift because they
make me look like you!”

It sends such a fantastic message of self-acceptance. We love that this book can preach to kids without preaching at all.
Profile Image for Westveil Books.
694 reviews61 followers
March 29, 2021
I was granted complimentary access to Zippy's Special Gift as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title through iRead Book Tours. Thank you to all involved! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

Zippy's Special Gift is the story of a young zebra named Zippy who doesn't like her stripes because they make her stand out and look different from all her friends. Her mother tells her these are her special gift and sends her out to ask her friends what theirs are, and along the way she learns what makes each of her different animal friends unique. She also learns that most of her friends don't always like what makes them unique, either, so it's perfectly normal!

I love the fact that this book is teaching kids that being different isn't a bad thing, we're all different in our own ways, and the things that make us different make us special. I'm glad to see a book that acknowledges that we don't always like what makes us different, and that's okay. It's a good message!

My criticism for this book is that despite being written by/in partnership with animal experts, this book doesn't attempt any mini science lessons by throwing in a line about WHY each animal's unique attribute is a "special gift" other than Zippy being happy that her stripes make her look like her mother. How about the fact that it's confusing to watch stripes on the move so it keeps them safe from predators? That's not too difficult a concept for the age group that would benefit most from this book.

The artwork is adorable and will definitely captivate kids from toddlerhood through to early primary grades. This is a great book to have at home, in a classroom, or in a daycare setting.
12 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2021
In Zippy’s special gift, Zippy, the Zebra does not like the way she looks because of her stripes. None of her friends from the jungle have stripes and she is sad about it. She shares her sadness with her mother who guides Zippy to go speak to her friends to find out about their special gifts.

Zippy’s friend Duck tells her she doesn’t like her webbed feet by their looks but they help her swim. Similarly, the frog wishes if he could walk on earth like his other friends yet he feels proud of himself for being able to leap. The same goes for the monkey who accepts his long tail gets in his way often and still he is happy it lets him have fun by aiding him to hang upside down from the tree. Zippy’s other friends – owl and dog also tell her their own tales of their special gifts.

After listening to her friends, Zippy gets convinced though her stripes make her look different than others, it is the stripes which make her so Zippy, unique and special.

The illustrations are in warm colours and appealing to the sight. The characters depicted in the illustrations are adorable. The text in the book flows rhythmically in small sentences which is perfect for younger children.

I would recommend this book for the following reasons –

1. Zippy’s story of recognising her special gift and her loving herself for that is a story of self-acceptance and self-love we all need to pass onto our children. What is better than doing the same in their early childhood!
2. I have always believed a children’s book is not supposed to be limited to children alone. They can be inspiring for the grown-ups as well. Hence, Zippy’s special gift serves as a reminder to the parents or the primary carers as well to consider their uniqueness and celebrate themselves for it.
Profile Image for Connie Saunders.
1,851 reviews160 followers
March 29, 2021
Zippy is a zebra who has many friends, but none of them look like her Her mother wisely tells her that "Your stripes are a special gift that never ever end!" She goes on to explain that "Your friends all have special gifts, too, and that gives them each their style."

Author Therese Van Ryne and illustrator Walter Policelli offer children a delightful book filled with rhyming text and beautiful pictures, and it's a story that both entertains and educates. A duck, dog, frog, monkey, and owl each talk about what makes them different, and what makes each of them special.

This book is a charming way to show children that even if they aren't like other kids, they are all special. Zippy's Special Gift helps reinforce that differences help set them apart, and these differences should be considered gifts! It also encourages kindness and acceptance.

I received a copy of this book from the author via iRead Book Tours. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.
Profile Image for Angela Thompson.
462 reviews15 followers
March 15, 2021
Zippy the Zebra Shares a Positive Message with Families. Most of us have some feature or trait that, while we may not like it, makes each of us the individual that we are. This book is great for little ones discovering themselves--and coming to terms a bit as they compare themselves to others. We all have gifts, talents, and features that set us apart. The author uses an assortment of animals to teach a bit about diversity and differences. Each animal friend displays his or her unique, individual feature and shares some feelings and insights into how their differences make them feel. Zippy realizes that her stripes make her different--but it is okay to be unique. This story is an excellent introduction to self-acceptance for families of little ones beginning to form groups at school and becoming self-aware (and a bit self-conscious).

Fun Animal Friends and a Heartwarming Story. The author brings together a fun group of animal friends as Zippy learns more about her friends and their unique gifts. The bright illustrations and the easy-to-read rhyming pages tell a story that will entertain and open the door for some deeper conversations about differences and inclusion.

Would I recommend Zippy's Special Gift? Zippy shares a cute story for preschoolers and younger elementary readers. This book is a fun, simple way to begin to teach a child about diversity and acceptance--as well as building some self-esteem and self-love at an age when they may need a little reassurance. I would recommend it to community or classroom storytime or for family storytime. I think this is an excellent book for any child feeling a little "different" from his peers.

I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Leila.
581 reviews9 followers
March 18, 2021
The very first thing one notices about this children’s book is the illustrations! They are super cute, bright, colorful, and almost appear like you can reach in and feel their fuzziness! It makes it a super cute “picture” book for the younger kids!

The story itself rhymes, which I love. I love nothing more than books that rhyme and books – more importantly – children’s books that rhyme, will always get extra points in my book! I find it helps the younger kids with reading and makes it much more fun for us older kids!

Each page contains a sentence, maybe two at most, and the words are pretty easy words for kids to read. I would venture to guess my 8 year old 2nd grader could read most of this book on her own. A first grader may need a little assistance, even a kindergartener who is learning their sight words would do okay reading this with a little assistance!

The story follows Zippy the Zebra who doesn’t like her stripes, but when her mom tells her to ask her friends about their own special gifts; Zippy finds that each of her friends has something that may not be their favorite part of them, but is their special gift.

It is a super cute story that points out what makes each of us our own unique individual.

I enjoyed the pictures, the story, and the storyline. My 8 year old loved it just as much and plans to share with her class! I think this book is a big win in our home!
1,575 reviews30 followers
March 16, 2021
What an adorable precious Books this is. I love love the story because it teaches children that they all have a special gift. They may not always like their gift, but it’s their own special gifts, unique like no other. Zippy the Zebra didn’t like his stripes but his mom assured him that everyone have special gifts, whether they like them. Zippy went on a journey to find his friends and ask them about their special gift. His friends frog, monkey, duck and more all had their own gifts, and they didn’t especially like them but they helped in the different unique things they did. Just like monkey said his tail gets in the way, but it helps him hang from a tree. And you need to read the book to your child to find out the others. And I can leave out the amazing illustrations by Walter Policelli! Each character is so adorable. And the story comes to life on the awesome illustrations on each page. And how each page fits the story so well is perfect. The beautiful colors, and characters will have your child looking at this book over and over. I encourage you to check out this wonderful and beautiful book inside and out. A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Profile Image for Laura.
3,205 reviews348 followers
March 22, 2021

This beautiful oversized board book is a delight to read and share with young children.
The character images are wonderful, bold and beautiful, very personalized.
The prose itself flows with a gentle yet catchy rhythm.
The message is clear, simple to understand and valuable.
6,185 reviews
March 16, 2021
Zippy's Special Gift is a wonderful children’s book debut for Therese Van Ryne. It is a beautiful story to teach readers – either young or old – to embrace their own differences, as well as, others. Zippy learns how she is unique and how she has a special gift. She sees that all of her friends have their own uniqueness and special gifts. I love that Zippy and the gang are able to show us all that we should accept ourselves and each other.

Zippy's Special Gift is illustrated by the talented Walter Policelli. These pictures are a great part of the book and helped the story flow. Younger readers will have no problem following along with it and their attention will be held on each page. The variety of animals used are so very cute.

I am going to give Zippy's Special Gift a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who are four to eight years old. It would be a perfect addition to a child’s school library. I hope hoping that Therese Van Ryne will release more children’s book in the near future. I would love to see more of Zippy and her gang of friends. It would be exciting to find out these role models wind up into a series of books. I am sure they can teach more important and valuable lessons for us all.

I received Zippy's Special Gift from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
Profile Image for Michelle, The Book Critic.
161 reviews4 followers
February 28, 2021
Zippy's Special Gift educates children that we are all beautiful individuals that should appreciate who we are as a person.

We all have different traits and gifts; that we might not be so satisfied with. Regardless, we SHOULD be proud of ourselves.

I would know because I spent most of my life (and I know others have too) thinking I was uglier than I actually was. It damaged my mental health, growing up and it made me feel insecure about my body.

It's never too late or early to speak up and tell kids that it's okay to feel the way that they're feeling. It's especially important to bring a spotlight on the message of why and how you can love yourself.

This picture book is a great example of that message and children will love learning about Zippy's journey to finding herself!

All in all, I highly recommend this one.
Profile Image for Debbie.
1,020 reviews11 followers
April 7, 2021
3.5 but I round up

Zippy has the same problem we see in many picture books. And if you think about it even for a few seconds, you will realize that many children and adults share her problem too. What is that problem? She isn’t happy with something about herself. In this case Zippy is concerned about her stripes.

None of her jungle friends have stripes and she’s not so sure why she has to have the silly things. When Zippy shares with her mother that her stripes are making her sad, she is told:

“Your stripes are a special gift that never ever ends!”

Well that may work for some Zebras, but it didn’t do too much to put a happy face on Zippy. Her mother then adds that Zippy’s other friends have special gifts too. She tells Zippy to go ask her friends what their gifts are.

Zippy finds some interesting answers. Duck has webbed feet. Owl can hoot, and Frog can leap but not walk. As Zippy’s journey continues she begins to understand that maybe having a unique quality is okay.

My Concerns
This is not a unique topic and feels a bit overused.

My Conclusion
Though this topic is not original, the illustrations and short, uncomplicated story make it a good choice. It’s perfect for classrooms, public and home libraries because of the age-old concern. The eye-catching, vivid colors of the art work will make this a book kids reach for often. And the sturdy construction of the book will appeal to adults.

My thanks to iRead Book Tours and the author for this book and the ability to review it and freely post my opinion.
Profile Image for Dawn.
1,571 reviews20 followers
March 31, 2021
I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Zippy doesn’t like her stripes but learns to accept herself as she is. By talking to her friends, she realizes that everyone is unique and that we should accept, even celebrate, our differences. What a fun way to teach acceptance to children.

Zippy’s Special Gift is a fun book to read! The text rhymes and the pictures are vibrant. The illustrations of the animals are adorable. I can’t wait to read this book to my grandson on Easter!

I like that the profits from the sales of this book will be donated to a charity that seeks to increase book ownership to under-served children throughout the Chicago area.
1,128 reviews32 followers
April 5, 2021
A sweet story of appreciating and embracing our differences. Zippy finds that, just like her friends, she doesn’t necessarily like her differences but recognizes what is special and unique about them. Zippy learns that she is perfect just the way she is.

Fun rhyming. Wonderful illustrations. An important message.

This book put a smile on my face all the way through it. Perfect for all families with young children.

Thank you to iReads Book Tours and the author for a copy of the book to review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Profile Image for LAWonder10.
953 reviews738 followers
January 27, 2022
A great book for a child in being unique and special.

Zippy's Special Gift is a well-written, truly rhyming work of art. It places emphasis on recognizing gifts in oneself and being aware gifts are often what we would choose to have. These gifts are a part f what makes us "special".
The illustrations by Walter Pollicelli are clear, colorful, and very cute.
The print copy is of quality material and well made.
This book was gifted me with no pressure to post a positive review. This is my honest review.
Profile Image for Misty.
498 reviews241 followers
April 10, 2021
ZIPPY'S SPECIAL GIFT by Therese Van Ryne was a super cute book with pictures that are perfect for young eyes. I loved that the profits from this book benefit children in need as it made me feel extra good about this book. The story itself was adorable and it teaches young children an important lesson about themselves and others.

Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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