An uplifting story of animal rescue.
An orangutan family finds safety in a new home.
In her debut picture book, Ward offers young readers and listeners a simple, gentle example of the loss of jungle habitat in Sumatra and the efforts of humans to relocate the orangutans that had been living there. The story is generic, but the rescued animals at Bukit Tigapuluh National Park (Thirty Hills) are real and apparently thriving. Her account begins with a lyrical description of family life in their “emerald green forest,” which is unhappily interrupted by noise and smoke. The orangutan mother moves her family only for their lives to be disrupted again when a machine knocks down their tree. This is a scary moment, but, reassuringly, a friendly human (portrayed as Asian) leads them away. They’re rehomed in a new forest where other orangutans live and forage. There’s repetition, both in the description of approaching devastation and in the family’s activities: eating fruit, tree swinging, and building sleeping nests—salient facts about orangutan habits. The tale is enlivened by Littlewood’s colorful illustrations, which convey a remarkable sense of the lush jungle world. Full of motion, the preliminary orangutan sketches on the endpapers and in the backmatter are a nice touch. The jungle animals are portrayed realistically. The orangutan faces are very expressive, conveying sadness and terror as the machine destroys their home and, at the end, joy. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An uplifting story of animal rescue. (facts behind the story) (Informational picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: July 11, 2023
ISBN: 9781913074142
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Otter-Barry
Review Posted Online: April 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2023
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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