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The Story
Sometimes the smallest pandas have the biggest adventures!
When a curious little panda named Hunkie Dorie™ is whisked away by her kite, she begins a journey far beyond her bamboo home. Hunkie is not like the other pandas. She is curious about the world, always dreaming of what lies past the Misty Mountains. But one windy day, her kite carries her farther than she ever imagined—and straight into an adventure full of wonder and surprise.
Along the way, Hunkie meets a golden monkey who knows the secrets of the trees, a tiger with stripes as bright as the sun, and a wise old elephant who listens more than she speaks. With each new friend, Hunkie learns about courage, kindness, patience, and the magic of being brave enough to keep going, even when the world feels very big.
Both playful and tender, Hunkie Dorie™ is a story about friendship, curiosity, and the beauty of protecting the creatures we share our planet with—a timeless tale for children of any age, and the grown-ups who read with them.
A portion of every purchase supports the World Wildlife Fund to help protect endangered species around the globe.
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The Storyteller
A. M. French has always loved animals and adventure stories. From exploring forests, beaches and mountains to traveling across the globe, she finds inspiration in the wild places of the world. Her passion for protecting nature and her joy in storytelling come together in Hunkie Dorie™ and the Kite of Destiny—her first children’s book, and the first book in a series.
When she isn’t writing, A. M. French loves discovering new corners of the world, relaxing with a cup of tea, and dreaming up new adventures for children and families to enjoy together.
Friends in Need
Meet some of Hunkie's endangered friends from around the world!
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The Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey
High in China’s snowy mountains lives the Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey, with soft golden fur and a bright blue face. These playful monkeys live in big families and stay close together to keep warm when the weather turns icy. They love to chatter and leap through the trees — but as their forests shrink, they have fewer places to live. Only a few thousand are left in the wild, tucked away in the misty forests of China’s mountains. People are now protecting their mountain homes so these shining monkeys can keep on swinging in the clouds.
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The Chinese Alligator
The is one of the smallest alligator species in the world, and it makes its home in the quiet rivers and ponds of eastern China. Unlike its bigger American cousin, this gentle reptile spends cold winters sleeping in underground burrows. Today, only a few dozen still live in the wild, though many more are cared for in safe reserves. With care, these sturdy little alligators can live for more than 50 years — plenty of time to enjoy the peaceful waters they call home.
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The Bactrian Camel
A most unusual-looking animal, the Bactrian Camel, with its two tall humps, roams the cold deserts of Mongolia and China. Its thick coat keeps it warm in icy winds and cool under the blazing sun. Wild Bactrian Camels can survive on salty water that most animals can’t drink — a clever trick in such a harsh land! Fewer than one thousand remain in the wild, but caring people are working to protect their desert home.
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The South China Tiger
This beautiful large cat once prowled through China’s forests and grasslands, its orange coat glowing bright against the green. Strong, swift, and silent, it was the smallest of all tiger kinds — but just as proud. Sadly, no Chinese Tigers are known to live in the wild today. And less than 200 remain in special reserves, where people hope one day their roar will echo through the mountains again.
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Deep in China’s misty bamboo forests lives the Giant Panda, with soft black-and-white fur and a love for long, lazy meals of crunchy bamboo. These peaceful bears spend most of their time eating, climbing, and napping among the green leaves. Once in great danger, there are now around 1,800 pandas in the wild — thanks to people working hard to protect their mountain homes.
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The Giant Panda
The Chinese Crested Tern
This graceful seabird has a bright orange beak and a soft crest that blows in the sea breeze. It nests on tiny islands along China’s coast, sharing its sandy home with other terns. For many years, people thought it had vanished forever — until a few were spotted again in 2000. Fewer than one hundred are known to live in the wild today, and caring hands are helping them make a safe return to the sea.
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The Asian Elephant
Have you ever wondered if all elephants are the same size? The Asian Elephant is smaller than its African cousin, with kind eyes and rounder ears that flap like gentle fans. These wise giants wander through forests in family herds, caring for one another every step of the way. They can talk to each other with rumbles so low that people can’t even hear them! But their forests are shrinking, and only about forty thousand remain in the wild today. People are working to protect their paths so the elephants can roam safely once more.
High in China’s snowy mountains lives the Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey, with soft golden fur and a bright blue face. These playful monkeys live in big families and stay close together to keep warm when the weather turns icy. They love to chatter and leap through the trees — but as their forests shrink, they have fewer places to live. People are now protecting their mountain homes so these shining monkeys can keep on swinging in the clouds.
Friends in Need
Hunkie's Cupboard
Little Treasures for Big Adventures
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Busy Paws
Kind Words
"I rarely submit five-star reviews. In this case, the most careful scrutiny of Hunkie Dorie and the Kite of Destiny failed to discover anything that would lead me to leave something OTHER than a five-star! The book is charming. Its message is consistent from beginning to end, but it's a subtle thread throughout and does not overwhelm an absorbing, funny, and thoroughly entertaining story.
Nothing feels contrived or artificial, as children's storytelling can be in less able hands. A plucky little panda who's tired of being trivialized by bigger siblings strikes out on their own, with a kite. All good until the kite snatches Hunkie into the sky and away. The path back home is long and frustrating, but a succession of the most amusing and memorable friends help. Charm without syrup, suspense without trauma. If you have children to buy for (or to read to), you really owe them this book and – bonus! Kite of Destiny is the start of a series."
Annie McEwen
Author
Letters from Hunkie