'I'm hungry too' is a children's book set in the Pampa de Achala, in the province of Córdoba. The story follows Lucas, a boy who lives in the countryside and who, through dreams and encounters with different animals such as the scorpion, the puma, the lizard and the Achala frog, begins to look differently at the so-called 'bugs' and the wildlife around him. These encounters transform his understanding of the natural world and invite him to recognise animals as beings with their own needs, fears and ways of inhabiting the territory.
La Pampa de Achala is a region of enormous ecological value, characterised by the presence of endemic species, i.e. animals that exist nowhere else in the world. This particularity makes its biodiversity especially vulnerable to climate change, as any change in temperature, rainfall or fire regime has a direct impact on its survival. As it is a localised and limited ecosystem, these species have fewer possibilities for adaptation, which makes them more fragile in the face of environmental changes.
The book introduces the idea of endemism in a simple and sensitive way, showing that living with animals that only exist in that place is not a burden, but a unique opportunity. An opportunity to learn to respect, care for and value a biodiversity that cannot be replicated. It does not seek to offer scientific explanations, but rather to awaken empathy and raise questions: What do animals feel? What is it like to live in fear? What does it mean to be hungry? What happens when there is not enough space and resources for everyone?
Through a poetic and symbolic narrative, the story proposes a reversal of roles between humans and animals that allows us to reflect on coexistence, survival, care for the land and the different ways of inhabiting the same space. In this way, the book serves as a gateway to understanding local biodiversity and its fragility in the face of climate change, using language that is accessible to children.
Overall, 'I'm Hungry Too' seeks to sow a sensitive and respectful view of nature, inviting children to recognise themselves as part of a unique ecosystem and to build a more conscious, empathetic and responsible relationship with their surroundings.