ARPress is honored to announce that the flipbook format of The Jiger and the Tiraffe by Penny Higgins is now available for purchase. The book is also offered in other formats on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the ARPress website.
There’s something undeniably magical about holding a paperback or hardback book in your hands, the smell of the pages, the feel of the paper, the satisfying thump as you close it at the end of a great story. It’s a sensory experience that e-readers and screens have struggled to replicate.
But here’s the thing: the world of reading is evolving, and it’s not just about going digital or flipping through pixels on a screen. Enter the flipbook, a fresh, interactive way to experience stories that goes beyond the printed page while still capturing the tactile joy we love.
You might remember flipbooks from childhood, those little booklets where flipping the pages quickly created a tiny animation. Today’s flipbooks have massively leveled up. They’re digital, accessible on any device, and combine the charm of flipping pages with multimedia elements like videos, sound, and clickable links. Imagine reading your favorite novel and encountering subtle animations or embedded audio that brings scenes to life.
In a world where conversations about diversity, inclusion, and unity fill our daily lives, stories that teach these values early to children hold a special kind of power. Penny Higgins’ The Jiger and the Tiraffe is one of those rare gems, a playful, rhyming tale that carries a message much bigger than its whimsical characters.
The story begins in the magical land of Ordo, where a wise Jiger and his sweet, cheerful wife, a Tiraffe, live together in harmony. Their love is tender, lighthearted, and full of fun. But when the time comes for them to have children, both secretly hope the baby will resemble themselves. It’s a familiar human instinct, the longing to see “ourselves” carried forward. Yet, when the babies arrive, they are neither exactly Jiger nor exactly Tiraffe. They are something new. Something blended. Something beautiful.
And isn’t that a reflection of our world today? Families today are more diverse than ever before, blending cultures, races, traditions, and histories. Higgins’ story gently opens the door to conversations children (and adults) need: that love is not limited by difference, and that uniqueness is something to be celebrated, not feared.
The book closes with a poignant truth:
“Some moms and dads are of different races. But all God’s children have beautiful faces.”
This line bridges the playful fantasy with a very real-world lesson. In a time when divisions can feel louder than unity, Higgins reminds us that our differences don’t divide us; they enrich us. Children who grow up with stories like The Jiger and the Tiraffe learn that identity doesn’t have to be either/or. It can be both. It can be more.
Penny Higgins writes with a heart for families, weaving rhyme and humor into a message that endures long after the last page is turned. Illustrator Jennifer Keen’s whimsical art adds warmth and charm, making it easy for children to laugh along while absorbing its deeper meaning.
This story teaches us that love, acceptance, and joy transcend appearances. And in today’s world, where children are growing up surrounded by beautifully diverse communities, The Jiger and the Tiraffe is more than a bedtime story, it’s a mirror, a bridge, and a celebration.
If you love books, don’t worry, paperbacks and hardbacks aren’t going anywhere. They still hold a special place on our shelves and in our hearts. But flipbooks open doors to new possibilities that blend tradition with innovation.
Whether you’re a lifelong reader curious about new formats or a creator eager to explore interactive storytelling, flipbooks invite you to go beyond the printed page and rediscover the joy of stories in a whole new way.
The Jiger and the Tiraffe by Penny Higgins is now available for purchase via the ARPress Bookstore.