What storytelling related themes stood out most to you while reading this book? What emotions did you feel as you read Woody's words?

"It is a foolish man who thinks stories do not matter— when in the end, they may be all that matters and all the forever we'll ever know." What storytelling related themes stood out most to you while reading this book? What emotions did you feel as you read Woody's words?

There are two storytelling related themes that stood out for me while reading "West With Giraffes. First and foremost it is a coming of age tale. I was rooting for Woody to complete his quest and become the best man he could be, despite his rough start in life and the circumstances of poverty and desperation he faced without the strong support from his family. Second it was a tale of good vs. evil. Those who were striving to get the giraffes safely to their destination vs. those who were attempting to snatch the giraffes for their own evil purposes. I felt many emotions, hope and anger and pride and sadness.

First and foremost as gloriam said it is the coming of age story of Woody finding good in life and his desire to overcome his obstacles of his past and live life with a purpose and be happy to relate honestly with others but always be open to learning. Second, centered around the giraffes and why was it so important to get them to the zoo --was it for the benefit of the animals to make sure their journey was safe and comfortable as possible as Woody and the Old Man and those who helped them when in trouble like Moses felt or was it for personal glory

The theme of inclusion was high on my list. The Old Man kept including Woody, as Woody kept including Red. Acceptance was another - the Old Man kept accepting Woody for who he was - Woody Kept accepting Red and everyone accepted the giraffes. Time was also strong - there was no time to waste and the various ways time was used along the way.

I think Woody ended up proud of himself and all that he had accomplished.

The theme of good vs. evil stood out to me-there were horrible things happening in the world at this time, and at the same time the joy the giraffes gave people something to smile about. The circus train, often appearing along the same route as the giraffes symbolized for me the difference between respecting and celebrating animals and harming them. We see the power greed has in decision making when Woody was offered money to turn over the giraffes too. Woody even battled the forces of good and evil in his dreams, as there were sweet visions and those that terrified him.

I was moved, significantly, by many of Woody’s thoughts as he put them down on paper. Particularly as he shared his feelings about looking at the night sky, how important Red was to him, what he learned about being grateful in the moment, and his amazement at the natural environment. I had all the feels reading this book, and Woody’s lessons will stay with me.

There are so many themes to this book: Coming of age tale, travel quest, animal story, romance, friendship, looking for home, overcoming adversity, etc. I hope the author writes many more books.

It has been said that this is definitely a coming of age story. We watch and see Woody's character change and grow throughout the story. The challenges and temptations he faces, his learning to trust and yes, love again are all part of the story. The second story that really touched me was the story of Red and her determination to live every bit of life she could, even knowing her life could be short.