A smart, lovingly crafted middle-grade adventure that will speak to young readers.
In this fourth installment of Polansky’s illustrated children’s series, a bird takes risks to help others and find personal growth.
Oscar is a young osprey with two siblings, Otto and Oprah. One day, thanks to plenty of practice, he’s able to fly higher than ever. With his fear of heights defeated, Oscar can now see and do things he’s never done before. He’s surprised, though, to see the blue skies turn smoky and dark; it turns out to be a forest fire. When he spots a confused herd of bison heading toward dangerous flames, Oscar swoops down and warns them. Later, Oscar tells his brother about the blaze, and Otto, who “loves an audience,” spreads word of his sibling’s heroism throughout the flock. When the osprey Elders convene, the Grand Old Osprey, aka Goo, explains to Oscar that he has the potential to become an Elder himself: “One must first be tested by the natural forces of fire, wind, water, ice, and earth,” Goo says. Since Oscar has already survived encounters with four of these elements in the past, earth represents his remaining challenge. Goo suggests that he think about it and keep their conversation a secret. Oscar next seeks advice from the Wise Old Owl, who tells him to gain knowledge from other animals but that “knowledge alone is not enough; experience is what builds wisdom.” In Polansky’s charming tale, readers will be entertained while learning important values, such as patience. Rosow’s black-and-white pen-and-ink illustrations, depicting such phenomena as flames and geysers, are beautifully textured and likely to pique kids’ curiosity about the natural world. Later, when events don’t turn out as planned, the owl wisely tells Oscar, “As you have compassion for others, you should also have compassion for yourself.” Although the adventure is short, it features other interlinked messages; the final one is “Learn to be grateful for what you have.” A “Gloscary (Oscar’s Glossary)” at the end helps track the many challenging vocabulary words throughout, including apprehension and embellishments.
A smart, lovingly crafted middle-grade adventure that will speak to young readers.Pub Date: June 15, 2022
ISBN: 9781665560818
Page Count: 50
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
A pleasing premise for book lovers.
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.
When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)
A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780316448222
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
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